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The  Next  Moment  was  a  Blank  " 


Chasing  an    Iron    Horse 

Or 

A  Boy's  Adventures  in  the  Civil  War 


By 
EDWARD  ROBINS 

Author  of  "  With  Washington    in    Braddock^s    Campaign^ 
"  A  Boy  in  Early  Virginia"  etc. 


PHILADELPHIA 

GEORGE  W.   JACOBS  &  CO. 

PUBLISHERS 


Copyright,  1902, 

By  George  W.  Jacobs  &  Co. 

Published  August^  ig02. 


^  (.14-534 


Preface 


The  locomotive  chase  in  Georgia,  which  forms 
what  may  be  called  the  background  of  this  story, 
was  an  actual  occurrence  of  the  great  Civil  War. 
But  I  wish  to  emphasize  the  fact  that  the  follow- 
ing pages  belong  to  the  realm  of  fiction.  Some 
of  the  incidents,  and  the  character  of  Andrews, 
are  historic,  whilst  other  incidents  and  characters 
are  imaginary.  The  reader  who  would  like  to 
procure  an  account  of  the  chase  as  it  really  hap- 
pened should  consult  the  narrative  of  the  Rever- 
end William  Pittenger.  Mr.  Pittenger  took  part 
in  the  expedition  organized  by  Andrews,  and  his 
record  of  it  is  a  graphic  contribution  to  the  an- 
nals of  the  conflict  between  North  and  South. 

Edwabd  Eobins. 


CONTENTS 


:haptei 

R. 

PAGE. 

/. 

HAZARDOUS  PLANS 

7 

//. 

NEAR/NG  THE  GOAL      - 

27 

///. 

MINGLING  WITH  THE  ENEMY  - 

56 

/K. 

PLOT  AND  PLOTTERS     - 

95 

K 

ON  THE  RAIL 

121 

K/. 

AN  UNPLEASANT  SURPRISE     - 

136 

K//. 

ENERGETIC  PURSUIT     - 

188 

K///. 

TWO  WEARY  WANDERERS      - 

206 

IX. 

IN  GREATEST  PERIL 

2}2 

X. 

FINAL  TRIALS 

263 

Illustrations      ^ 


The  next  moment  was  a  blank      -         -  Frontispiece. 

The  Major  merely  changed  the  position 

of  his  legs  -         _         .         .     Facing  page     82 

Fuller   was    steaming  to  the  northward 

with  "  The  Yonah "    -         -         -         "         "192 

None    too    soon   had    he    executed   this 

manoeuvre  -         -         -         -         **         **2I4 

Watson  placed  his  hand  over  the  man's 

mouth        -         -         -         -         -         "         **     270 


Chasing  an    Iron   Horse 


CHAPTEK  I 

HAZARDOUS   PLANS 

The  lightning  flashes,  the  mutterings  of  thun- 
der, like  the  low  growls  of  some  angry  animal, 
and  the  shrieking  of  the  wind  through  swaying 
branches,  gave  a  weird,  uncanny  effect  to  a  scene 
which  was  being  enacted,  on  a  certain  April 
night  of  the  year  1862,  in  a  secluded  piece  of 
woodland  a  mile  or  more  east  of  the  village  of 
Shelby  ville,  Tennessee.  In  the  centre  of  a  small 
clearing  hemmed  in  by  trees  stood  a  tall,  full- 
bearded  man  of  distinguished  bearing.  Around 
him  were  grouped  twenty  sturdy  fellows  who 
listened  intently,  despite  the  stir  of  the  elements, 
to  something  that  he  was  saying  in  a  low,  serious 
tone  of  voice.  None  of  them,  strangely  enough, 
wore  a  uniform,  although  they  were  all  loyal 


8  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

Union  soldiers  belonging  to  the  division  of 
troops  commanded  by  General  O.  M.  Mitchell, 
then  encamped  on  the  banks  of  Duck  River, 
only  a  couple  of  miles  away.  For  the  country 
was  now  engaged  in  the  life-and-death  struggle 
of  the  Civil  War,  when  Northerner  fought 
against  Southerner — sometimes  brother  against 
brother — and  no  one  could  predict  whether  the 
result  would  be  a  divided  or  a  reunited  na- 
tion. 

"My  friends,"  the  speaker  was  solemnly  say- 
ing, as  a  new  flash  from  the  darkened  heavens 
lit  up  the  landscape  for  a  second,  and  showed 
how  resolute  were  the  lines  of  his  face;  "my 
friends,  if  you  go  into  this  scheme  with  me,  you 
are  taking  your  lives  into  your  hands.  It's  only 
fair  that  I  should  impress  this  upon  you,  and 
give  any  and  all  of  you  a  chance  to  drop 
out." 

There  was  a  quick,  sharp  clap  of  thunder, 
which  was  not  loud  enough,  however,  to  drown 
the  earnest  protest  of  every  listener.  "We're 
not  cowards,  Andrews !  "  "  We'll  stick  to  you 
through  thick  and  thin  ! "  "  Nobody's  going  to 
draw  back  1 "    These  were  among  the  fervent 


Hazardous  Plans  9 

answers  which  greeted  the  leader  addressed  as 
Andrews.  The  latter  was  evidently  pleased, 
though  by  no  means  surprised.  He  was  dealing 
with  brave  men,  and  he  knew  his  audience. 

"All  the  better,  boys,"  he  went  on,  with  a 
complacent  ring  in  his  soft  but  penetrating 
voice.  "You  see,  this  is  the  situation.  The 
Confederates  are  concentrating  at  Corinth,  Mis- 
sissippi, and  Generals  Grant  and  Buell  are  ad- 
vancing by  different  routes  against  them.  Now, 
our  own  General  Mitchell  finds  himself  in  a 
position  to  press  into  East  Tennessee  as  far  as 
possible,  and  he  hopes  soon  to  seize  Chattanooga, 
after  he  has  taken  Huntsville,  Alabama.  But  to 
do  this  he  must  cut  off  Chattanooga  from  all 
railroad  communication  to  the  south  and  east, 
and  therefore  all  aid.  In  other  words,  we  men 
are  to  enter  the  enemy's  country  in  disguise, 
capture  a  train  on  the  Georgia  State  railroad, 
steam  off  with  it,  and  burn  the  bridges  leading 
in  the  direction  of  Chattanooga,  on  the  northern 
end  of  the  road.  It  is  one  of  the  most  daring 
ideas  ever  conceived,  and  its  execution  will  be 
full  of  difficulties.  If  we  fail  we  shall  be  hanged 
as  spies !    If  we  succeed,  there  will  be  promotion 


lO  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

and  glory  for  all  of  us,  and  our  names  will  go 
down  into  history." 

There  was  a  murmur  of  encouragement  from 
the  men,  as  one  said :  "  We  must  succeed,  if 
only  to  save  our  necks."  The  next  moment  the 
barking  of  a  dog  could  be  heard  above  the 
whistling  of  the  wind. 

"Be  careful,"  cried  Andrews,  warningly; 
"  some  one  may  be  listening." 

Hardly  had  he  spoken  before  two  figures 
bounded  from  the  encircling  trees  into  the  open 
space  wherein  stood  the  startled  conspirators. 
While  flashes  of  lightning  played  through  the 
branches,  and  gave  fitful  illumination  to  the 
scene,  the  men  saw  revealed  a  lad  of  about  fif- 
teen or  sixteen  years  of  age,  flushed  and  breath- 
less, and  at  his  heels  a  tiny  Yorkshire  terrier, 
bright  of  face,  and  with  an  inquiring  glance  that 
seemed  to  say :  "  What  is  all  this  fuss  about  ?  " 
As  the  animal  danced  around  the  boy  it  was 
evident  that  the  latter  was  by  no  means  fright- 
ened, or  even  surprised,  by  the  strangeness  of 
this  meeting  in  the  forest.  His  regular,  hand- 
some features  and  intelligent,  sparkling  gray 
eyes  denoted  excitement  rather  than  fear.     He 


Hazardous  Plans  11 

sprang  forward,  and,  pulling  a  letter  from  an 
inner  pocket  of  his  blue  jacket,  made  straight 
for  Andrews. 

"  Why,  if  it  isn't  George  Knight,"  muttered 
one  soldier,  "  and  his  chum,  "Waggie." 

The  dog,  hearing  his  own  name,  came  up  and 
fawned  upon  the  man  who  had  spoken,  while 
the  boy  thrust  into  the  hands  of  the  leader  the 
letter  which  he  had  so  carefully  guarded. 

"This  is  from  General  Mitchell,"  explained 
young  Knight.  "He  said  it  was  most  urgent 
— and  I  was  to  fetch  it  to  you  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible." 

Andrews  opened  the  letter,  as  he  replied 
kindly  to  the  lad :  "  You  look  out  of  breath, 
George.  Did  you  have  a  hard  time  reaching 
here?"  ' 

"As  Waggie  and  I  were  hurrying  up  the 
Shelbyville  road  in  the  darkness,"  returned 
George  Knight,  "  we  ran  into  a  company  of 
Confederate  guerrillas.  They  paid  us  the  com- 
pliment of  firing  at  us — and  we  had  to  run  for 
our  lives.     But  we  gave  the  fellows  the  slip." 

Thereupon  Waggie  gave  a  growl.  Andrews, 
who  was  about  to  read  the  letter  from  General 


12  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

Mitchell,  assumed  a  listening  attitude.  So  did 
every  one  else.  Out  on  the  highroad,  not  a  hun- 
dred yards  away,  could  be  heard  the  tramping 
of  horses.  Involuntarily  the  men  put  their 
hands  towards  the  pockets  which  contained  their 
revolvers. 

"  The  guerrillas ! "  muttered  the  boy,  as  An- 
drews gave  him  a  questioning  look. 

"  How  many  are  there  of  them  ? "  asked  the 
leader. 

"  Hard  to  tell  in  the  dark,"  answered  George. 
"  I  think  there  were  a  dozen  or  so." 

"  Oh,  if  that's  all,  let's  give  'em  a  scare,  boys ! " 
laughed  Andrews.  Suiting  the  action  to  his 
words,  he  pulled  out  a  pistol  from  his  hip  pocket, 
and  fired  it  in  the  direction  of  the  highroad. 
His  companions,  nothing  loath,  quickly  fol- 
lowed his  example.  George  and  his  canine 
chum  looked  on  expectantly,  as  if  regretting 
that  neither  of  them  possessed  a  weapon.  Now 
there  came  the  clatter  of  hoofs,  like  a  stampede, 
and  the  guerrillas  seemed  to  be  engaged  in  a 
wild  scramble  to  get  away.  They  were  an  in- 
trepid party,  without  doubt,  but  the  sudden 
volley  from  the  mysterious  and  darkened  re- 


Hazardous  Plans  13 

cesses  of  the  woods  (which  might  come,  for  all 
the  Southerners  knew,  from  a  whole  regiment  of 
troops)  demoralized  them.  In  another  instant 
they  were  scampering  off,  and  the  sound  of  the 
horses  on  the  road  was  soon  lost  in  the  dis- 
tance. 

Andrews  replaced  his  revolver,  with  a  little 
chuckle  of  amusement. 

"  They  are  a  daring  lot  to  venture  so  near  our 
army,"  he  said.  Then  he  began  to  read  the  let- 
ter, with  the  aid  of  a  dark  lantern  provided  by 
one  of  his  companions. 

While  he  is  engaged  in  this  occupation  let  us 
ask  two  questions.  Who  is  Andrews,  and  who 
is  George  Knight  ?  James  Andrews,  though  a 
Yirginian  by  birth,  has  lived  in  the  mountains 
of  Kentucky  for  many  years,  and  is  now  a  spy 
of  the  Union  army,  in  the  employ  of  General 
Buell.  The  war  is  only  fairly  begun,  but  already 
more  than  once  has  the  spy  courted  death  by 
penetrating  into  the  lines  of  the  Confederacy,  in 
the  guise  of  a  merchant,  and  bringing  back  to 
the  Northern  forces  much  valuable  information. 
He  is  a  man  of  fine  education  and  polished  man- 
ners, despite  his  life  in  the  wilds,  and  is  tall,  aris- 


14  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

tocratic-looking,  and  full  of  a  quiet  courage 
which,  in  his  own  dangerous  profession,  answers 
far  better  than  the  greatest  impetuosity.  He 
has  plenty  of  daring,  but  it  is  a  daring  tempered 
with  prudence.  Although  he  has  masqueraded 
among  the  enemy  at  times  when  the  slightest 
slip  of  the  tongue  might  have  betrayed  him,  he 
has  thus  far  returned  to  the  Union  lines  in 
safety.  How  long,  some  of  his  friends  ask  anx- 
iously, will  he  be  able  to  continue  in  so  perilous 
an  enterprise  ?  Yet  here  he  is,  planning,  with 
the  consent  of  General  Mitchell,  a  scheme  bolder 
than  anything  yet  dreamed  of  in  the  annals  of 
the  war. 

And  what  of  George  Knight  ?  He  is  an  ac- 
tive, healthy-minded  drummer  boy  belonging  to 
one  of  the  Ohio  regiments  in  General  Mitchell's 
division.  His  mother  had  died  in  his  infancy. 
At  the  outbreak  of  the  war,  a  year  before  the 
opening  of  our  story,  he  was  living  in  Cincinnati 
with  his  father.  The  latter  suddenly  gave  up  a 
prosperous  law  practice  to  go  to  the  help  of  the 
North,  secured  a  commission  as  a  captain  of 
volunteers,  went  to  the  front,  and  was  either 
captured  or  killed  by  the  Confederates.     Sinje 


Hazardous  Plans  15 

the  preceding  Christmas  nothing  had  been  heard 
of  him.  George,  with  a,n  aching  heart,  stayed  at 
home  with  an  uncle,  and  chafed  grievously  as  he 
saw  company  after  company  of  militia  pass 
through  his  native  town  on  the  way  to  the 
South.  "Where  was  his  father  ?  This  he  asked 
himself  twenty  times  a  day.  And  must  he,  the 
son,  stand  idly  by  whilst  thousands  of  the  flower 
of  the  land  were  rushing  forward  to  fight  on  one 
side  or  the  other  in  the  great  conflict ?  "I  must 
enlist ! "  George  had  cried,  more  than  once. 
"  Pshaw  !  "  replied  his  uncle  ;  "  you  are  too 
young — a  mere  child."  But  one  fine  day  George 
Knight  had  himself  enrolled  as  a  drummer  boy 
in  a  regiment  then  being  recruited  in  Cincinnati, 
and,  as  his  uncle  had  a  large  family  of  his  own, 
with  no  very  strong  affection  to  spare  for  his 
nephew,  there  was  not  as  much  objection  as 
might  have  been  expected.  So  the  lad  went  to 
the  war.  He  had  now  become  a  particular  ^rc>- 
tege  of  General  Mitchell,  who  had  taken  him  into 
his  own  service  as  an  assistant  secretary — a  posi- 
tion in  which  George  had  already  shown  much 
natural  cleverness. 

After  reading  the  letter  just  brought  to  him, 


l6  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

Andrews  tears  it  into  a  hundred  little  pieces 
which  he  scatters  to  the  winds. 

"What's  the  matter?"  ask  several  of  the 
men,  as  they  crowd  around  him. 

"Hurry's  the  matter,"  laughs  the  leader,  as 
unconcernedly  as  if  he  were  speaking  of  nothing 
more  dangerous  than  a  picnic.  "  The  General 
tells  me  we  must  start  at  once,  if  we  want 
to  accomplish  anything.  To-morrow  [Tuesday] 
morning  he  takes  his  army  straight  south  to 
Huntsville.  If  he  captures  the  town  by  Friday, 
as  he  expects  to  do,  he  can  move  eastwards,  to 
Chattanooga.  So  we  will  do  our  bridge-burning 
and  our  train-stealing  on  Friday,  before  the  rail- 
road is  obstructed  with  trains  bringing  Con- 
federate reinforcements  to  the  latter  city." 

Even  in  the  darkness  one  could  detect  the 
gleam  in  the  eyes  of  the  men  as  they  saw  before 
them,  with  pleasure  rather  than  fear,  the  risky 
part  they  were  to  play  in  the  drama  of  warfare. 
The  eyes  of  George  sparkled,  likewise. 

"  If  I  could  only  go  with  them,"  he  thought. 
What  was  camp  life  compared  to  the  delight  of 
such  an  adventure  ?  Waggie  gave  a  bark.  Even 
he  seemed  to  scent  something  interesting. 


Hazardous  Plans  17 

"You  soldiers,"  continued  Andrews,  "must 
break  into  detachments,  make  your  way  east- 
ward into  the  Cumberland  Mountains,  and  then 
southward,  well  into  the  Confederate  lines. 
There  you  can  take  the  cars,  and  by  next  Thurs- 
day night  you  must  all  meet  me  down  at  Mari- 
etta, Georgia.  The  next  morning  according  to  a 
plan  which  you  will  learn  at  Marietta,  (which  is 
on  the  Georgia  State  Railroad)  we  will  put  our 
little  ruse  into  effect — and  may  providence  smile 
on  it." 

"  But  what  will  the  men  pretend  to  be  while 
on  their  way  down  to  Marietta  ?  "  asked  George, 
who  could  scarce  contain  either  his  curiosity  or 
his  enthusiasm. 

"  Look  here,  my  boy,"  said  Andrews,  in  a  quick 
though  not  in  an  unkindly  way.  "  I  don't  know 
that  you  should  be  hearing  all  this." 

Had  the  scene  been  less  dark  one  might  have 
seen  the  flush  on  the  boy's  face. 

"  I  didn't  think  I  was  playing  eavesdropper," 
he  retorted. 

Andrews  put  his  right  hand  on  George's  shoul- 
der. "  Come,"  he  said,  in  a  spirit  of  friendliness ; 
"  I  didn't  exactly  mean  that.     I  know  you're  to 


i8  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

be  trusted,  from  what  General  Mitchell  has  said 
of  you.  But  you  must  keep  a  tight  rein  on  your 
tongue,  and  not  say  a  syllable,  even  in  camp,  of 
this  expedition.  There's  no  reason  why  the 
whole  army  should  be  discussing  it — until  the 
thing's  done.  Then  you  can  talk  about  it  as 
much  as  you  want." 

George  no  longer  felt  offended.  "  You  can 
depend  on  me,"  he  said  manfully.  "  I  won't 
even  tell  the  General." 

At  this  there  was  a  peal  of  laughter  from  the 
men,  -which  seemed  to  be  answered,  the  next  in- 
stant, by  a  blinding  fork  of  lightning,  and  then 
a  fresh  outburst  of  thunder.  Andrews  lifted  up 
his  hand  warningly.  He  was  very  grave,  as  be- 
fitted a  man  on  the  verge  of  a  mighty  responsi- 
bility. 

"  Not  so  loud,"  he  protested.  "  You  boys  must 
impersonate  Kentuckians  who  are  trying  to  get 
down  south  to  join  the  Confederate  army.  A 
great  many  fellows  have  gone  from  Kentucky  to 
throw  in  their  lot  with  the  Confederacy,  and  if 
you  are  prudent  you  will  have  no  trouble  in 
making  people  believe  you.  If  any  of  you  fall 
under  suspicion  on  the  way,  and  are  arrested,  you 


Hazardous  Plans  19 

can  enlist  in  the  Confederate  army,  and  then 
escape  from  it  at  the  first  opportunity.  The 
Southerners  are  glad  to  get  all  the  recruits  they 
can,  suspicious  or  otherwise.  But  I  hope  you 
will  all  reach  Marietta  in  safety.  Pray  be  care- 
ful of  one  thing.  If  you  meet  me  as  we  are 
traveling,  don't  recognize  me  unless  you  are  sure 
no  one  is  watching  us.  At  Marietta  we  will  con- 
trive to  meet  in  the  hotel  near  the  railroad  sta- 
tion, where  I  will  tell  you  all  that  is  to  be  done 
the  next  morning." 

"  "We  have  no  money  for  the  journey,"  inter- 
posed a  young  volunteer.  "  Uncle  Sam  doesn't 
pay  us  privates  very  large  salaries,  you  know, 
Mr.  Andrews." 

Andrews  produced  a  large  wallet  from  the  in- 
ner pocket  of  his  overcoat.  It  was  fairly  bulg- 
ing with  paper  money, 

"  I've  seen  to  that,"  he  explained.  "  Here's  a 
whole  wad  of  Confederate  currency  which  will 
pay  your  expenses  through  the  Southern  lines." 
And  with  that  he  began  to  deal  out  the  bills  to 
the  men,  who  hastily  stowed  away  the  money  in 
their  own  pockets. 

"Now,  boys,"  went  on  the  leader,  "I  want 


20  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

you  to  divide  yourselves  into  parties  of  three  or 
four,  so  that  you  may  travel  in  separate  groups, 
and  thus  avoid  the  suspicion  which  might  be 
aroused  if  you  all  went  in  a  body.  And  remem- 
ber !  One  party  must  have  nothing  to  do  with 
another." 

Thereupon,  in  the  gloomy  woods,  the  future 
spies  formed  themselves,  as  their  inclinations  di- 
rected, into  six  parties  or  detachments,  four  con- 
taining three  men  each,  and  two  containing  four. 
Andrews  was  to  proceed  southward  alone,  with- 
out an  escort.  Poor  George  Knight  and  Waggie 
appeared  to  be  left  out  in  the  cold.  George  was 
burning  to  join  the  expedition.  Even  the  rain 
which  suddenly  began  to  fall  could  not  quench 
his  ardor. 

"  Mr.  Andrews,"  he  said,  coming  up  close  to 
the  leader,  and  speaking  in  a  whisper,  "  can't  I 
go  to  Marietta,  too  ?  " 

Andrews  peered  at  the  boy  in  admiring  sur- 
prise. "By  Jove,"  he  answered,  "you're  not 
afraid  of  danger,  even  if  you  are  little  more  than 
a  child.  It's  bad  enough  for  grown  men  to  risk 
their  lives — and  bad  enough  for  me  to  drag  them 
into  such  a  position, — without  getting  a  plucky 


Hazardous  Plans  21 

boy  into  the  scrape  also.  No !  Don't  ask  me  to 
do  that." 

"  But  I  won't  be  in  any  more  danger  in  the 
South  than  I  am  here,"  pleaded  George.  "  If  I 
stay  here  I  may  be  shot  in  battle,  while  if  I  go 
to  Marietta  I " 

"  If  you  go  to  Marietta,  and  are  found  out, 
you  may  be  hanged  as  a  spy,"  interrupted  An- 
drews. "  I'd  rather  see  you  shot  than  strung  up 
with  a  rope." 

"  The  Confederates  would  never  hang  me  if  I 
am  little  more  than  a  child,  as  you  caU  me," 
urged  the  lad. 

Andrews  was  evidently  impressed  by  George's 
persistence,  but  he  hastened  to  say  :  "  Anyway, 
I  have  no  authority  to  send  you  ojff  on  this  chase. 
You  are  a  member  of  General  Mitchell's  military 
household,  and  he  alone  could  give  you  the  per- 
mission." 

"  Then  promise  me  that  if  I  get  his  permission 
you  will  let  me  go." 

The  spy  hesitated.  He  could  just  discern  the 
earnest,  pleading  expression  in  the  upturned  face 
of  the  boy,  upon  which  the  rain-drops  were  pour- 
ing almost  unnoticed. 


22  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

"  "Well,"  he  said,  at  last,  "  I  am  going  back  to 
camp  now,  and  I  start  out  before  daylight.  If 
you  can  induce  the  General  to  let  you  accompany 
us  before  that  time  I'll  make  no  objection." 

George  gave  a  little  exclamation  of  delight. 
"  Come,"  he  said,  snapping  his  fingers  at  Waggie, 
"  let  us  see  what  we  can  do  to  talk  the  old  Gen- 
eral into  it." 

The  rain  was  now  coming  down  in  torrents, 
while  the  sharp,  almost  deafening  cracks  of  thun- 
der sounded  as  if  the  whole  artillery  of  the  Union 
army  were  engaged  in  practice.  Soon  all  the 
conspirators  were  hurrying  back  to  camp.  An- 
drews was  the  very  last  to  leave  the  woods  where 
he  had  divulged  his  plans. 

"  Heaven  forgive  me,"  he  mused,  half  sadly, 
"  if  I  am  leading  these  boys  into  a  death  trap." 
But  as  a  sudden  flash  of  lightning  illuminated  the 
wet  landscape,  as  with  the  brightness  of  day,  there 
came  into  the  leader's  strong  face  a  look  of  calm 
resolution.     "It's    worth    all    the    danger,"   he 

added. 

*  ^^  *  *  *          * 

An  hour  later  George  Knight  came  running 
into  the   tent  which  Andrews  occupied  in  the 


Hazardous  Plans  23 

camp  on  Duck  River.  The  leader  was  enveloped 
in  a  woolen  overcoat,  and  on  his  well-shaped 
head  was  a  slouch  hat  of  the  kind  generally  worn 
by  Southerners.  By  the  dim,  sickly  light  of  the 
candle  which  sputtered  on  a  camp  stool  it  could 
be  seen  that  he  had  been  writing,  for  pen,  ink 
and  a  sealed  letter  were  spread  out  upon  the  top 
of  a  leathern  army  trunk. 

"  Well,"  cried  Andrews,  picking  up  the  candle 
from  its  tin  socket  and  flashing  it  in  the  radiant 
fa<^  of  the  boy.  "  Ah !  N^o  need  to  ask  you !  I 
see  by  your  dancing  eyes  that  you  have  wheedled 
old  Mitchell  into  allowing  you  to  do  a  foolish 
thing." 

The  smile  on  the  lad's  face  vanished.  "  Don't 
you  want  me  to  go  along  with  you  ?  "  he  asked, 
in  an  injured  tone. 

The  leader  replaced  the  candle  in  the  socket 
and  then  took  one  of  George's  hands  between  his 
own  strong  palms.  "  George,"  he  said  cordially, 
"  you're  a  boy  after  my  own  heart,  and  I'd  like 
nothing  better  than  to  have  you  for  a  companion ; 
but  it's  because  I  do  like  you  that  I'm  sorry  you 
are  about  to  run  such  a  risk — and  that's  the  truth. 
How  did  you  contrive  to  persuade  the  General  ?  " 


24  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

George  seated  himself  on  Andrews'  bed,  and 
laughed.  "It  was  hard  work  at  first,"  he  ex- 
plained, "  but  after  he  had  refused  me  twice  I 
said  to  him  :  '  General,  if  you  were  a  boy  in  my 
place,  and  had  heard  of  this  expedition,  what 
would  you  do  ? '  '  By  all  the  stars,'  he  said,  '  I 
would  run  away  to  it  rather  than  miss  it — and 
get  shot  afterwards  as  a  deserter,  I  suppose,' 
'  Then  don't  put  me  under  the  temptation  of  run- 
ning away,'  said  I.  At  this  the  General  laughed. 
Then  he  said :  '  Well,  tell  Andrews  you  can  go 
— and  that  I'll  never  forgive  him  if  he  lets  any- 
thing happen  to  you.  After  all,  the  Confeder- 
ates would  never  hang  a  child  like  you.' " 

"  So  he  too  calls  you  a  child  !  "  laughed  An- 
drews. 

"  Of  course  I'm  not  a  child,"  cried  George 
proudly,  as  he  jumped  from  the  bed  and  stood  up 
very  straight,  to  make  himself  look  as  tall  as  pos- 
sible ;  "  but  the  General  may  call  me  a  six- weeks' 
old  baby  if  he  only  lets  me  go  along  with  you." 

"  There  is  no  time  to  waste,"  announced  An- 
drews. "In  the  third  tent  from  mine,  to  the 
right,  you  will  find  Privates  Macgreggor  and  Wat- 
son, of  the  Second  Ohio  Volunteers.     They  have 


Hazardous  Plans  25 

just  offered  to  go  with  us,  and  I  have  accepted 
them  in  addition  to  the  rest.  Go  to  them,  ask 
them  to  get  you  a  suit  of  plain  clothes,  put  it  on 
instead  of  your  uniform,  and  stick  to  them  closely 
from  the  moment  you  leave  camp  until  you  meet 
me,  as  I  hope  you  will,  at  Marietta.  And  be 
particularly  careful  to  have  nothing  about  you 
which  could  in  any  way  lead  to  your  identifica- 
tion as  a  Union  soldier  in  case  you  should  be  ar- 
rested and  searched." 

"  Hurrah  !  "  said  George,  half  under  his  breath. 

"  May  we  all  be  hurrahing  this  time  next  week," 
returned  Andrews.  "Here,  George,  as  you  go 
out  give  this  letter  to  the  sentry  outside,  to  be 
sent  off  to-morrow  in  the  camp  mail."  As  he 
spoke  he  took  the  sealed  note  from  the  army 
trunk,  and  handed  it  to  the  boy.  "  It  is  written 
to  the  young  woman  I  am  engaged  to  marry," 
he  explained,  "  and  if  we  all  get  out  of  this  bridge- 
burning  business  with  our  heads  on  our  shoulders 
you  can  come  dance  at  my  wedding,  and  be  my 
best  man." 

"  I'd  dance  at  twenty  weddings  for  you,"  en- 
thusiastically cried  George,  who  was  beginning 
to  have  a  great  admiration  for  his  new  friend. 


26  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

"  You  don't  want  me  to  be  married  twenty  times, 
do  you,  my  boy  ?  "  protested  Andrews,  smiling. 

"  I  would  do  a  great  deal  to  oblige  you,"  re- 
torted George.  Then,  after  warmly  grasping  his 
leader  by  the  hand,  he  bounded  out  of  the  tent. 
The  night  was  black,  and  the  rain  was  still  de- 
scending in  a  veritable  torrent,  but  to  the  lad 
everything  seemed  clear  and  rosy.  He  only  saw 
before  him  a  mighty  adventure — and  that,  to  his 
ardent,  youthful  spirit,  made  the  whole  world  ap- 
pear charming. 


CHAPTEE  II 

NEARING   THE   GOAL 

It  was  the  Thursday  afternoon  succeeding  the 
Monday  night  described  in  the  former  chapter. 
On  the  north  bank  of  the  Tennessee  River,  not 
far  from  the  town  of  Jasper,  three  drenched 
figures  might  be  discerned.  They  were  looking 
somewhat  longingly  in  the  direction  of  a  white 
frame  house  not  fifty  yards  away  from  the 
stream,  which,  swollen  by  the  recent  storms,  was 
in  a  particularly  turbulent  mood.  There  was 
nothing  very  attractive  about  the  building  save 
that  it  suggested  shelter  from  the  rain  without, 
and  that  the  smoke  curling  up  from  its  large 
chimney  held  forth  vague  hopes  of  a  palatable 
supper.  Certainly  there  was  little  in  the  land- 
scape itself  to  tempt  any  one  to  remain  out- 
doors. The  three  wanderers  seemed  to  be  of  this 
opinion,  for  they  suddenly  made  a  move  towards 
the  house.  They  were  roughly  dressed,  their 
clothes  were  soaking,  and  their  high  boots  bore 

27 


28  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

the  evidence  of  a  long,  muddy  tramp  across 
countr3\ 

"Well,"  grumbled  one  of  them,  a  thick-set, 
middle-aged  man,  with  a  good-humored  expres- 
sion and  a  four-days'  growth  of  iron-gray  beard 
on  his  face ;  "  why  did  I  leave  home  and  home 
cooking  to  enlist  in  the  army  and  then  Avander 
over  the  earth  like  this  ?  " 

"  Mr.  Watson ! "  exclaimed  the  person  next  to 
him,  in  a  tone  of  boyish  surprise ;  "  how  can  you 
talk  like  that  ?  Why,  /  am  having  the  time  of 
my  life." 

The  speaker  was  George  Knight.  There  was 
mud  on  his  face,  and  the  natty  drummer  boy  in 
blue  uniform  had  given  place  to  a  young  fellow 
who  outwardly  resembled  an  ordinary  farm  hand. 
But  there  could  be  no  doubt,  from  the  light 
which  shone  in  his  bright  eyes,  that  he  was  en- 
joying himself  to  the  full. 

"Humph!"  returned  Watson.  "When  you 
get  as  old  as  I  am,  my  boy,  you  won't  take  such 
keen  delight  in  walking  through  mire." 

The  boy  laughed,  and  turned  to  the  third 
member  of  the  party.  "Are  you  tired,  too,  Mac- 
greggor  ?  "  he  asked. 


-^ 


Nearing  the  Goal  29 

Macgreggor,  a  compactly  built,  athletic  young 
man  of  twenty-seven  or  thereabouts,  with  a 
light-brown  beard  and  mustache  which  made 
him  look  older  than  he  really  was,  shook  the  rain 
from  his  hat  and  said  cheerily,  "  I've  done  a  good 
deal  of  mountain  climbing  since  Tuesday  morn- 
ing, but  I'm  not  too  tired  to  eat  a  good  supper, 
if  we  are  lucky  enough  to  find  one  in  this  place." 

It  need  hardly  be  repeated  that  Watson  and 
Macgreggor  were  the  two  men  in  whose  care 
Andrews  had  placed  George  Knight.  They 
were  both  brave,  resourceful  men.  During  their 
long  trudge  across  the  mountainous  country 
between  Shelbyville  and  the  Tennessee,  Wat- 
son had  uttered  many  a  grumble,  but  his  com- 
plaints meant  nothing  more  than  a  desire  to 
hear  himself  talk.  When  it  came  to  fording  a 
stream,  climbing  a  precipice,  or  fairly  wading 
through  the  slush,  he  was  quite  as  willing  and 
energetic  as  the  other  two  members  of  his 
party. 

George  knocked  loudly  at  the  door  of  the 
house,  as  he  and  his  companions  hastily  sheltered 
themselves  under  the  little  piazza  which  ran  along 
the  front  of  the  place. 


30  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

"  Be  on.  your  guard,  boys,"  whispered  Watson. 
"  Stick  to  your  story  about  our  being  Kentuck- 
ians,  and  say  nothing  imprudent  that  may  arouse 
suspicion.  Keraember !  we  must  be  in  Marietta 
by  to-morrow  night." 

The  meeting  at  Marietta  had,  at  the  very  last 
moment,  been  postponed  by  Andrews  from 
Thursday  night  to  Friday  night.  "  It  is  well  he 
did  postpone  it,"  thought  Macgreggor ;  "  we  are 
far  enough  from  Marietta  as  it  is." 

The  door  was  suddenly  thrown  open  by  an 
old  negro  "  aunty  "  behind  whom  stood  a  neat, 
bustling  little  white  woman.  The  latter  was  evi- 
dently engaged  in  the  business  of  preparing  sup- 
per, if  one  might  judge  from  the  fact  that  her  bare 
arms  were  almost  encaked  in  flour. 

"We  are  three  Kentuckians  from  Fleming 
County  on  our  way  to  enlist  in  Chattanooga," 
spoke  out  Macgreggor,  in  a  voice  which  seemed 
to  have  the  ring  of  truth  in  it,  "  Can  we  spend 
the  night  here,  so  that  we  can  cross  the  river  in 
the  morning?" 

The  expression  of  the  woman,  which  had  at 
first  been  one  of  surprise  and  irritation  at  being 
stopped    in    her    work,    softened    immediately. 


Nearing  the  Goal  31 

*•' Come  in,"  she  said,  quickly;  "my  hushand's 
only  a  farmer,  and  we  can't  give  you  anything 
very  fine,  but  it  was  never  said  of  'Mandy  Hare 
that  she  turned  away  from  her  house  any  loyal 
friend  of  the  South." 

"With  that  she  led  her  gratified  visitors  through 
a  scantily-furnished  parlor  into  a  kitchen  which 
seemed  to  them  like  a  Paradise.  Over  the  roar- 
ing fire  in  the  great  hearth  several  vessels  were 
simmering  and  emitting  the  most  delightful 
odors,  while  a  table  near  by  was  already  set  for 
the  coming  meal.  On  a  chair  facing  the  fire  a 
fat,  white  cat  was  purring  blissfully.  The  room 
was  delightfully  warm ;  the  whole  scene  had  an 
irresistible  attraction  and  air  of  domesticity. 

"  Make  yourselves  at  home,"  commanded  Mrs. 
Hare,  cheerfully.  "My  husband  will  be  home 
from  Jasper  in  a  few  minutes,  and  then  you'll 
have  something  to  eat — such  as  'tis." 

At  this  instant  there  was  a  querulous  little 
bark,  which  appeared  to  come  from  the  region 
of  George  Knight's  heart.  Mrs.  Hare  looked 
around  in  surprise;  the  white  cat  stirred  un- 
easily. The  next  second  the  boy  had  shaken  his 
overcoat,  and  from  out  of  a  large  side  pocket 


32  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

jumped  the  diminutive  "VVaggie.  The  cat,  with 
one  bound,  took  a  flying  leap  to  the  kitchen 
stairs,  and  brushing  past  the  half-opened  door  at 
the  bottom  of  the  flight,  fairly  tore  up  to  the 
second  story,  where  she  disappeared.  Waggie 
gave  a  shrill  yelp  of  emotion,  but  evidently  con- 
cluded that  it  was  safer  not  to  chase  a  strange 
and  muscular  cat  in  a  strange  house. 

"Gracious  me,"  cried  Mrs.  Hare;  "did  you 
bring  that  little  fellow  all  the  way  from  Ken- 
tucky?" 

"  When  I  came  away  he  followed  me,"  replied 
George.  He  spoke  the  truth,  although  he  did 
not  add  that  he  "  came  away "  from  a  Union 
camp  rather  than  from  Kentucky.  "Waggie  had 
been  consigned  to  a  member  of  General  Mitch- 
ell's staff,  to  remain  with  him  during  his  owner's 
absence,  but  George  had  not  proceeded  five  miles 
on  his  journey  before  he  heard  a  joyous  bark  be- 
hind him — and  there  frisked  and  capered  Wag- 
gle. "You'll  have  to  turn  spy  now,"  George 
said.  It  was  too  late  to  send  him  back.  Thus 
the  dog  joined  the  party,  much  to  the  pleasure 
of  all  concerned. 

Hardly  had  Waggle  made  his  theatrical  en- 


Nearing  the  Goal  33 

trance  into  the  kitchen  before  a  lean,  prematurely 
shriveled  man  of  fifty,  whose  long  shaggy  beard 
proclaimed  him  a  veritable  countryman,  came 
shambling  into  the  room.  At  sight  of  the  three 
strangers  a  curious  look  came  into  his  restless 
eyes.  It  was  almost  as  if  the  look  was  one  of 
triumph.  George,  observing  it,  shivered,  al- 
though he  could  hardly  say  why  he  did  so. 

"  This  is  my  husband,"  explained  Mrs.  Hare, 
with  an  awkward  attempt  at  courtesy.  "  These 
men,"  she  continued,  addressing  her  lord  and 
master,  "  have  the  good  of  the  Southern  cause  at 
heart,  and  are  on  their  way  to  Chattanooga,  to 
enlist  in  the  Confederate  army."  She  cast  such 
an  approving  glance  upon  the  wanderers  as  she 
spoke,  and  was  so  good-natured,  that  George's 
heart  smote  him  at  the  deception  which  was 
being  practised  upon  her.  He  was  a  frank, 
honest  boy,  who  hated  the  very  idea  of  appear- 
ing anywhere  under  false  pretences.  But  he 
realized  that  he  was  playing  a  part  for  the  good 
of  his  General,  and  his  General's  cause,  and  he 
resolved  to  maintain,  as  well  as  he  could,  his  new 
character  of  a  Southern  sympathizer. 

Farmer  Hare  gave  to  each  of  the  visitors  a 


34  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

surly  recognition.  "Waggie  walked  up  to  him, 
snififed  about  his  boots,  and  uttered  a  low  growl. 
It  was  plain  that  the  dog  did  not  approve  of  the 
master  of  the  house. 

"  You  fellows  are  taking  a  pretty  long  journey 
to  serve  the  South,"  remarked  Mr.  Hare  at  last, 
in  a  nasal  tone  sadly  at  variance  with  the  cus- 
tomary soft  Southern  cadence. 

"  Can  he  suspect  us  ?  "  thought  Watson.  The 
same  thought  went  through  the  mind  of  Mac- 
greggor,  but  he  merely  said :  "  We  are  nearly 
at  our  journey's  end  now.  By  to-morrow  we 
will  be  in  Chattanooga." 

"  Sit  down  and  make  yourselves  comfortable," 
snarled  Hare,  with  the  air  of  an  unwilling  host. 
The  visitors  took  the  chairs  which  Mrs.  Hare 
had  placed  for  them  at  the  supper-table.  They 
were  joined  by  husband  and  wife,  and  the  negro 
"aunty"  was  soon  serving  a  delicious  meal  of 
corn  bread,  Irish  stew,  and  other  good  things. 
They  all  ate  with  a  will,  including  Waggie, 
who  was  given  a  private  lot  of  bones  by  the 
fireside.  When  the  supper  was  over  the  farmer 
arose  abruptly.  "  I  s'pose  you  fellows  have  had 
a  pretty  long  tramp,  and  want  to  go  to  bed,"  he 


Nearing  the  Goal  35 

said.  "  We  keep  good  hours  in  this  house,  any- 
way, and  turn  in  early  at  night — so  that  we  may 
turn  out  early  in  the  morning." 

"  Give  them  a  chance  to  dry  themselves  before 
the  fire,"  urged  Mrs.  Hare. 

"Let  'em  dry  themselves  in  bed,"  muttered 
the  farmer.  Whereupon  he  lighted  a  candle, 
and  turned  towards  the  door  leading  to  the  sec- 
ond story.  He  was  evidently  in  a  great  hurry 
to  get  his  guests  up-stairs.  Watson,  Macgreggor 
and  George  looked  at  one  another,  as  if  trying 
to  fathom  the  cause  of  their  peculiar  reception  at 
the  hands  of  Farmer  Hare.  But  each  one  si- 
lently decided  that  their  only  cue  was  to  be  as 
polite  as  possible,  and  refrain  from  any  alterca- 
tion with  their  host. 

"After  all,"  thought  Watson,  "if  we  can 
spend  the  night  here  we  will  be  off  again  at 
dawn — and  then  let  our  surly  host  take  himself 
to  Kamchatka,  for  all  we  care." 

Half  an  hour  later  Watson  and  Macgreggor, 
thoroughly  tired  out,  were  sound  asleep,  in  one 
of  the  small  rooms  in  the  second-story  of  the 
house.  George,  however,  lay  tossing  from  side 
to  side  on  a  bed  in  the  adjoining  room,  directly 


36  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

over  the  kitchen,  with  "Waggie  curled  up  on  the 
floor  close  by.  The  more  he  thought  of  the 
strange  behavior  of  Hare  the  more  uneasy  he 
became.  Why  had  the  farmer  regarded  him 
and  his  two  companions  with  such  a  suspicious 
glance?  Then  George  suddenly  recollected 
where  he  had  seen  that  face  before.  Yes ! 
There  could  be  no  mistake.  While  he,  Mac- 
greggor  and  Watson  were  dining  that  day  at 
the  village  tavern  in  Jasper,  Hare  was  loitering 
on  the  porch  of  the  place.  But  what  of  that  ? 
The  three  pretended  Kentuckians  had  told  their 
usual  story,  and  professed  their  love  for  the 
Confederacy,  and  no  one  there  had  seemed  to 
doubt  their  truthfulness  for  a  moment. 

In  vain  the  boy  tried  to  fall  asleep.  At  last, 
hearing  voices  in  the  kitchen,  he  rose  quietly 
from  his  bed,  stole  out  of  his  room,  and  stealthily 
walked  to  the  little  hallway  that  led  to  the 
kitchen  stairway.  At  the  head  of  the  staircase 
he  halted.  It  was  clear  that  Farmer  Hare  was 
saying  something  emphatic,  while  his  wife  was 
entering  a  feeble  protest.  An  intuition  told  the 
listener  that  his  own  party  was  the  subject  of 
discussion.     Slowly,  cautiously,  he  crept  down 


Nearing  the  Goal  37 

the  stairway,  until  he  almost  touched  the  closed 
door  which  led  from  it  to  the  kitchen. 

"  I  tell  you,  woman,"  Hare  was  saying,  "  these 
three  fellows  are  spies  of  some  sort,  and  the 
sooner  we  have  them  under  arrest  the  better." 

"  I  can't  believe  it,"  murmured  the  wife. 

"  I  don't  care  whether  you  believe  it  or  not," 
rejoined  the  husband,  in  a  harsh  tone.  "  Don't 
I  tell  you  that  when  these  two  men,  and  the 
boy,  were  at  the  tavern  in  Jasper  to-day,  one  of 
the  men  was  recognized  by  John  Henderson. 
Henderson  is  a  spy  in  the  service  of  General 
Beauregard,  and  was  in  the  camp  of  General 
Mitchell  only  a  few  da3'^s  ago,  disguised  as  a 
trader.  There  he  saw  this  fellow — the  one  with 
the  brown  beard — and  he  swears  there's  no 
mistake.  But  he  didn't  tell  us  in  time — the 
three  disappeared,  No ;  there's  mischief  of 
some  sort  brewing  here,  and  I  intend  to  stop  it, 
if  my  name's  Hare.  We  don't  want  any  spies 
around  here." 

"  Spies  !  "  exclaimed  the  woman.  "  Then  if 
they  are  caught  within  our  lines  they  will  be 
shot ! "  It  seemed  as  if  she  shuddered  as  she 
spoke. 


38  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

"  Or  hanged,"  added  the  farmer,  with  an  un- 
pleasant laugh. 

"  Let  them  go,"  whispered  Mrs.  Hare,  plead- 
ingly. "  I'm  just  as  good  a  Confederate  as  you 
are,  Jake,  but  don't  let  us  have  the  blood  of 
these  fellows  on  our  hands.  That  nice  little 
chap  with  the  dog — I  would  as  soon  see  my  own 
son  get  into  trouble,  if  I  was  lucky  enough  to 
have  one,  as  that  bright-eyed  boy.  Turn  'em 
out  of  the  house,  Jake,  if  you  suspect  them — tell 
them  to  go  about  their  business — but  don't  set  a 
trap  for  them."  Her  voice  became  almost  plain- 
tive. It  was  evident  that  the  strangers  had 
made  a  favorable  impression  upon  Mrs.  Hare, 
and  that  her  woman's  feelings  revolted  at  the 
idea  of  betraying  them,  even  though  they  were 
the  secret  enemies  of  her  cause.  "  I  hate  war, 
anyway,"  she  added.  "It  sets  friend  against 
friend,  brother  against  brother,  father  against 
son,  state  against  state.  All  this  trouble  be- 
tween the  North  and  South  might  have  been 
fixed  up  without  fighting,  if  there'd  been  a  little 
more  patience  on  both  sides." 

"  Don't  preach,"  muttered  Hare.  "  There  ain't 
time  for  it.    Where's  Uncle  Daniel  ?  '* 


Nearing  the  Goal  39 

The  listening  George  did  not  know  that 
"  Uncle  Daniel "  was  the  black  farm-hand  who 
helped  Hare,  but,  from  the  name,  he  felt  sure 
that  a  slave  was  meant. 

"  Uncle  Daniel  is  out  in  the  barn,  I  reckon," 
answered  the  wife.  "  What  do  you  want  him 
for?" 

"  Wait  and  see,"  rejoined  her  husband,  gruffly. 
With  that  enigmatical  reply  he  opened  a  door 
leading  to  the  barn,  stalked  out,  and  disap- 
peared. There  was  a  half-stifled  cry  from  Mrs. 
Hare,  but  she  apparently  made  no  effort  to 
detain  him.  "  The  Vigilants !  Oh !  the  Vigi- 
lants !  "  she  repeated,  in  accents  of  distress. 

"  The  sooner  we  get  out  of  this  the  better  for 
our  necks,"  thought  George.  He  had  no  sense 
of  fear  •  he  was  only  filled  with  one  consuming 
idea.  He  must  get  word  to  his  two  companions, 
and  at  once.  Just  what  Hare  contemplated  in 
the  way  of  a  trap  he  could  not  tell,  yet  it  was 
evident  that  the  sooner  Watson  and  Macgreggor 
were  awakened  the  more  chance  would  all  three 
have  for  escaping  from  whatever  fate  the  farmer 
had  in  store  for  them. 

Cautiously  George  crept  back  until  he  was  at 


40  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

the  door  of  the  room  where  the  two  men  were 
heavily  sleeping.  His  first  impulse  was  to  rattle 
at  the  knob ;  but  he  recollected  in  time  that  this 
would  make  a  noise  that  might  bring  Mrs.  Hare 
to  the  scene.  He  stood  still  and  reflected.  It 
would  be  foolish  to  invite  the  attention  of  her 
husband  or  herself  before  a  plan  of  action  could 
be  decided  upon.  For  nearly  five  minutes  he 
stood  in  the  hallway,  wondering  how  he  could 
awaken  his  tired  fellows  without  making  a  dis- 
turbance. 

"I  wonder  if  I'm  very  stupid,"  thought  the 
boy.  He  could  hear  the  kitchen  door  open,  as 
Hare  came  back  into  the  house,  and  began  talk- 
ing to  his  wife  in  low  tones.  He  could  distin- 
guish but  one  word.     It  was  "  Vigilants ! " 

At  last  he  gave  a  faint  exclamation  of  satis- 
faction, and  stole  back  to  his  own  room.  "Wag- 
gie,  who  was  now  lying  on  the  bed,  moved 
uneasily.  George  lighted  a  candle  and  examined 
the  plastered  wall  which  ran  between  his  room 
and  the  one  where  the  unconscious  Watson  and 
Macgreggor  were  gently  snoring.  He  knew  that 
the  bed  on  which  they  slept  was  directly  on  the 
other  side  of  this  wall,  and  he  judged  that  the 


Nearing  the  Goal  41 

partition  itself  was  very  thin.  In  this  theory  he 
was  correct :  the  laths  and  their  plaster  cover- 
ing formed  a  mere  shell,  which  was  not  much 
thicker  than  an  ordinary  wooden  partition. 
Taking  a  large  jack  knife  from  his  waistcoat  he 
began  to  cut  into  the  wall,  about  four  feet  from 
the  floor.  Before  long  he  had  made  a  small  hole, 
not  bigger  than  the  dimensions  of  a  five-dollar 
gold  piece,  straight  through  the  plaster.  Look- 
ing through  it,  with  the  aid  of  his  candle,  he 
saw  that  Watson  and  Macgreggor  were  stretched 
out  in  bed  on  the  other  side,  each  half-dressed 
and  each  sleeping  as  if  there  were  no  such  thing 
in  the  world  as  war  or  danger. 

"  They  deserve  a  good  sleep,"  said  the  boy  to 
himself ;  "  but  it  can't  be  helped,  so  here  goes  !  " 
At  the  same  moment  he  extinguished  his  candle, 
pulled  it  out  of  the  candlestick,  and  poked  it 
through  the  whole.  He  directed  it  in  such  a 
way  that  it  fell  squarely  on  the  face  of  Mac- 
greggor. The  man  suddenly  stopped  snoring, 
turned  his  body  from  one  side  to  the  other,  and 
then  started  up  in  the  bed,  in  a  half-sitting  posture. 

"  Macgreggor !  Mac  ! "  whispered  George ; 
"it's  I,  George  Knight.     Don't  speak  loud." 


42  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

"  "Where  on  earth  are  you  ?  "  asked  the  newly- 
awakened  sleeper,  in  a  startled  voice. 

"Never  mind  where  I  am,"  answered  George. 
"  Only  don't  make  a  noise.  But  get  up,  light 
your  candle,  and  open  your  door  for  me  without 
letting  them  hear  j^ou  down-stairs." 

By  this  time  Watson  was  awake  too,  and  had 
jumped  to  the  floor.  When  Macgreggor  lighted 
his  candle,  and  saw  the  little  hole  in  the  wall,  at 
which  appeared  one  of  George's  eyes,  he  al- 
most gave  a  cry  of  surprise ;  but  prudence  re- 
strained him,  and  he  merely  touched  Watson's 
arm,  pointed  to  the  hole,  and  then  quietly  un- 
locked the  door  of  their  room.  George  soon 
crept  carefully  in,  and  proceeded,  in  as  low  a 
voice  as  he  could  command,  to  tell  the  two  men 
what  he  had  heard  from  the  kitchen. 

"  The  Yigilants ! "  whispered  Watson.  "  Why, 
don't  you  know  what  that  means?  When  we 
were  in  Jasper  to-day  I  saw  some  of  them  stand- 
ing around  the  village  grocery  store,  and  even 
talked  with  them.  They  thought  I  was  a  good 
'  Confed,'  and  I  found  out  that  they  are  organ- 
ized into  a  band  to  arrest  suspicious  characters, 
keep    things    in  order  in  this   section   of    the 


Nearing  the  Goal  43 

county  and  even  turn  guerrillas  when  they  are 
wanted." 

"I  see  the  whole  thing,"  said  Macgreggor. 
"  This  Hare  has  sent  his  negro  over  to  Jasper  to 
bring  the  Yigilants  here  to  take  charge  of  us, 
and  to  string  us  up,  no  doubt,  to  the  first  con- 
venient tree.  The  sooner  we  get  away  from  here 
the  better  for  our  lives.  Jasper  is  only  two 
miles  off,  and  the  Yigilants  will  be  riding  over 
here  before  we  have  time  to  say  Jack  Robinson." 

"  There's  still  time,"  said  George,  "  and  as 
there's  only  one  man  here  against  us  now — I 
mean  Hare — we  can  seize  him,  tie  him  to  some- 
thing, and  then  escape  into  the  darkness." 

"  So  we  can,  my  boy,"  replied  Watson,  who 
was  thinking  as  deeply  and  as  calmly  as  if  a 
game  of  chess,  rather  than  a  matter  of  life  and 
death,  were  the  issue.  "  There's  no  trouble  as  to 
our  escaping.  But  remember  this.  It's  pitch 
dark  and  raining  again  like  cats  and  dogs ;  we 
don't  know  our  way  ;  we  are  sure  to  get  lost  be- 
fore we  have  run  fifty  yards  from  the  house,  and 
these  Yigilants,  who  understand  every  foot  of 
the  country,  will  divide  into  small  parties,  and 
hunt  us  down,  as  sure  as  fate.     And  if  they 


44  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

can't,  they  will  put  hounds  on  our  track — and 
then  we'll  be  beautifully  carved  up  into  beef- 
steaks. I  have  seen  hounds,  and  I  know  how 
they  appreciate  a  nice  little  man  hunt."  Wat- 
son smiled  grimly. 

Macgreggor  walked  silently  to  one  of  the  win- 
dows, opened  the  sash  just  a  crack,  and  listened. 
He  could  hear  nothing  but  the  downpour  of  the 
rain.  Yet  it  would  not  be  long  before  the  Yigi- 
lants  dashed  up  to  the  house.  No  doubt  they 
had  all  been  telling  anecdotes  in  the  corner  gro- 
cery store,  and  they  would  take  but  a  short  time 
for  the  mounting  of  their  horses.  Cautiously 
closing  the  window  he  returned  to  the  centre  of 
the  room. 

"  It's  a  dark  night,"  he  said,  "  and  all  the  bet- 
ter for  a  plan  I  have  to  propose.  We  are  each 
secretly  armed  with  pistols,  are  we  not  ?  Well, 
then,  let  us  put  out  this  candle,  and  open  the 
window  to  the  left,  looking  out  towards  the  high- 
road to  Jasper.  When  the  Yigilants  come  riding 
up  the  road  and  get  in  front  of  the  house  we  will 
suddenly  fire  on  them.  This  may  cause  a  panic, 
as  the  fellows  will  not  be  able  to  tell  just  where 
the  enemy  are,  and  then " 


Nearing  the  Goal  45 

"  Pshaw  !  "  interrupted  "Watson.  "  You  don't 
know  whom  you're  dealing  with.  These  Vigi- 
lants  are  as  brave  as  they  are  reckless,  and  there 
are  at  least  twenty-five  or  thirty  of  them.  Three 
men  can't  frighten  them.  They  would  only  get 
us  in  the  end,  even  if  we  did  succeed  in  disabling 
one  or  two  of  them  in  the  first  surprise." 

"Then  what  are  we  to  do?"  asked  George 
eagerly.  "Watson  was  so  composed  that  the  boy 
felt  sure  he  must  have  some  better  plan  for  es- 
cape. 

"  I  have  a  scheme,"  said  "Watson,  quite  simply. 
"  I  have  been  hatching  it  in  my  brain  while  we 
were  talking.  But  the  quicker  it's  put  to  the 
test,  the  quicker  will  we  save  our  necks.  Are 
you  willing  to  trust  me  blindly  ?  " 

There  was  a  whispered  "  yes  "  from  both  the 
other  conspirators.  "Watson  inspired  confidence 
by  his  assurance. 

"  Then  let  us  get  all  our  clothes,  shoes,  every- 
thing on  at  once,  and  walk  boldly  down-stairs." 

Three  minutes  later  the  trio  were  marching 
down-stairs  into  the  kitchen.  Hare  and  his  wife 
were  standing  at  the  fireplace,  looking  the  picture 
of  surprise,  as  their  guests  burst  into  the  room, 


46  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

with  the  irrepressible  Waggie  at  their  heels.  The 
old  negro  "aunty,"  who  had  been  dozing  on  a 
stool  near  the  hearth,  jumped  to  her  rheumatic 
feet  in  consternation.  "  Hallelujah !  Hallelujah ! " 
she  cried,  throwing  her  withered  arms  above  her 
turbaned  head.  For  the  guests  held  revolvers  in 
their  hands,  and  the  "  aunty's  "  heart  always  sank 
at  the  thought  of  gunpowder. 

The  farmer  took  a  step  forward,  as  if  uncertain 
what  to  do  or  say.  At  last  he  said,  trying  to 
smile,  yet  only  succeeding  in  looking  hypocritical : 
"  You  ain't  going  to  leave  us  this  time  of  night, 
are  you?  Wait  till  morning,  and  get  some 
breakfast." 

"It's  a  nice  breakfast  you'd  give  us  in  the 
morning,"  laughed  Watson,  with  a  significant 
look  at  their  host.  "  A  halter  stew,  or  some  roast 
bullets,  I  guess  ! " 

Hare  jumped  backward  with  such  suddenness 
that  he  almost  knocked  into  the  fire  his  fright- 
ened wife  who  had  been  standing  directly  behind 
him.     "  What  do  you  mean  ?  "  he  hissed. 

"  You  know  perfectly  well  what  I  mean,  Mr. 
Hare,"  said  Watson,  looking  him  straight  in  the 
face,  whilst  the  other  spectators  listened  in  breath- 


Nearing  the  Goal  47 

less  interest.  "  You  have  sent  word  to  the  Jas- 
per Yigilants  to  ride  over  here  and  arrest  us,  on 
the  suspicion  of  being  spies." 

Had  the  heavens  suddenly  fallen,  the  counte- 
nances of  the  Hares  could  not  have  shown  more 
dismay. 

"How  did  you  find  that  out?"  asked  the 
farmer,  quite  forgetting  to  play  his  part  of  amiable 
host. 

"Never  mind  how,"  cried  George,  who  was 
burning  to  play  his  part.  "  Only  it's  a  pity  you 
haven't  as  much  mercy  in  you  as  your  wife 
has." 

"Listen,"  said  Watson,  as  he  motioned  the 
others  in  the  room  to  be  silent.  "  George,  you 
will  watch  this  old  negress,  and  if  she  attempts 
to  make  a  sound,  or  to  leave  the  room  before  we 
are  ready,  give  her  a  hint  from  your  revolver." 

"With  a  scream  of  fright,  comical  in  its  inten- 
sity, the  "  aunty  "  sank  back  on  her  stool  near  the 
hearth,  and  covered  her  dark  face  with  her  hands. 
There  she  sat,  as  if  she  expected  to  be  murdered 
at  any  moment. 

"And  you,  Macgreggor,"  continued  Watson 
impressively,  "  will  keep  the  same  sort  of  watch 


48  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

over  Mrs.  Hare.  Happen  what  may,  there  is  not 
to  be  a  sound  from  either  woman." 

Mrs.  Hare  started  in  confusion.  Her  husband 
made  a  bound  for  the  kitchen  door.  With  another 
bound  no  less  quick  Watson  darted  forward, 
caught  the  farmer,  pushed  him  back  at  the  point 
of  the  pistol,  and  bolted  the  door. 

"  What  do  you  want  to  do  ?  "  demanded  Hare. 
"  Are  we  to  be  murdered  ?  " 

"  No,"  cried  Watson,  "  but " 

Then  there  came  the  sound  of  horses'  hoofs  in 
the  distance.  Every  one  listened  eagerly,  and 
none  more  so  than  the  farmer. 

"  You're  done  for,"  he  said  slowly,  casting  a 
half-malevolent,  half-triumphant  glance  at  the 
three  Northerners. 

"  Not  by  a  great  deal,"  said  Watson.  "  March 
with  me  to  the  parlor,  open  the  front  door  just  a 
crack,  and,  when  the  Yigilants  come  up,  say  to 
them  that  we  three  men  have  escaped  from  the 
house,  stolen  a  flatboat,  and  started  to  row  across 
the  Tennessee  Eiver.  Send  them  away  and  shut 
the  door.  I  will  be  standing  near  you,  behind 
the  door,  with  my  pistol  leveled  at  your  head. 
Make  one  movement  to  escape,  or  say  anything 


Nearing  the  Goal  49 

but  what  I  have  told  you  to  say,  and  you  are  a 
dead  maa ! " 

The  patter  of  the  horses  was  becoming  more 
and  more  distinct. 

"  Will  you  do  as  I  tell  you  ?  "  asked  Watson, 
very  coolly,  as  he  toyed  with  his  revolver. 

"If  I  won't?"  asked  Hare.  His  face  was 
now  convulsed  by  a  variety  of  emotions — fear, 
rage,  craftiness,  and  disappointment. 

"I  give  you  three  seconds  to  choose,"  said 
Watson.  "  If  you  refuse,  you  will  be  stretched 
out  on  that  floor." 

Mrs.  Hare,  with  white  cheeks,  leaned  forward, 
and  whispered  to  her  husband  :  "  Do  as  he  tells 
you,  Jake.  Better  let  these  Yankees  go,  and  save 
your  own  life." 

"  One — two "  counted  Watson. 

Hare  held  up  his  right  hand,  and  then  dropped 
it  listlessly  by  his  side. 

"  I  give  in,"  he  said  sullenly.  "  You've  got 
the  better  of  me."  He  looked,  for  all  the  world, 
like  a  whipped  cur. 

There  was  not  a  second  to  lose.  The  horse- 
men were  riding  up  to  the  house.  Watson  mo- 
tioned to  the  farmer,  who  walked  into  the  parlor, 


5©  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

which  was  unlighted,  closely  followed  by  the 
soldier.  There  were  sounds  without,  as  of  horses 
being  reined  in,  and  of  men's  gruff  voices.  Hare 
opened  the  parlor  door  a  few  inches,  while  Wat- 
son, safe  from  observation,  stationed  himself 
within  a  few  feet  of  him,  with  cocked  revolver. 
"  Remember  !  "  he  whispered,  significantly. 

"  Is  that  you,  boys  ?  "  shouted  Hare.  "  Those 
three  spies  I  sent  word  about  escaped  from  here 
ten  minutes  ago,  stole  a  boat  on  the  bank,  down 
by  the  landing,  and  started  to  row  across  the 
river." 

"  They  will  never  reach  the  other  side  a  night 
like  this,"  called  out  some  one. 

"  What  did  you  let  'em  get  away  from  you 
for  ?  "  asked  another  of  the  Vigilants. 

"  How  could  I  help  it  ?  "  growled  the  farmer. 
"  They  were  well  armed — and  'twas  three  men 
against  one." 

"  Pah !  You've  brought  us  out  on  a  wild-goose 
chase,  and  on  a  durned  bad  night,"  came  a  voice 
from  the  wet  and  darkness. 

"  Perhaps  they'll  drift  back  to  this  side  of  the 
river,  and  can  be  caught,"  one  Yigilant  suggested. 
But  this  idea  evidently  met  with  little  approval. 


Nearing  the  Goal  51 

It  "was  plain,  from  what  Watson  could  hear  of 
the  discussion  which  ensued,  that  the  Yigilants 
were  disgusted.  They  were  ready,  indeed,  to 
give  up  the  chase,  on  the  supposition  that  the 
three  fugitives  would  either  drift  down  in  mid- 
stream, or  else  be  capsized  and  find  a  watery 
grave. 

"  Come,  we'll  get  home  again,"  commanded  a 
horseman,  who  appeared  to  be  the  leader.  "  And 
no  thanks  to  you,  Jake  Hare,  for  making  us 
waste  our  time." 

"  Say  Jake,  won't  you  ask  us  in  to  have  some- 
thing warm  to  drink?"  cried  another  Vigi- 
lant. 

Watson  edged  a  trifle  nearer  to  Hare,  and 
whispered:  "Send  'em  away  at  once,  or 
else " 

Once  bring  the  Yigilants  into  the  house,  as  the 
soldier  knew,  and  capture  or  death  would  be  the 
result. 

Hare  could  almost  feel  the  cold  muzzle  of  the 
revolver  near  his  head. 

"  Go  away,  fellows,"  he  called.  "  You  know 
I  ain't  got  nothing  for  you." 

A  jeer,  and  a  few  sarcastic  groans  greeted  this 


52  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

remark.  "  I  always  reckoned  you  was  a  skin- 
flint," yelled  one  of  the  party. 

There  was  a  derisive  cheer  at  this  sally.  Then, 
at  a  word  of  command,  the  Vigilants  turned 
their  horses  and  cantered  back  towards  Jas- 
per. The  sound  of  hoofs  became  fainter  and 
fainter. 

"  Shut  the  door,"  ordered  "Watson,  "  and  go 
back  to  the  kitchen." 

Sullenly  the  farmer  obeyed.  When  the  two 
were  once  more  by  the  blazing  hearth,  George 
and  Macgreggor,  who  had  been  guarding  Mrs. 
Hare  and  the  negress,  rushed  forward  to  grasp 
the  hands  of  their  deliverer.  They  were  about 
to  congratulate  him  upon  his  successful  nerve 
and  diplomacy  when  he  interrupted  them. 

"Don't  bother  about  that,"  he  said;  "let  us 
get  away  from  here  as  soon  as  possible,  before 
our  kind  host  has  a  chance  to  play  us  any  more 
tricks." 

"I  suppose  you  think  yourself  pretty  smart, 
don't  you?"  snapped  Hare,  casting  a  spiteful 
glance  at  "Watson. 

"  So  smart,"  put  in  George,  "  that  if  you  don't 
want  to  be  laughed  at  from  now  until  the  day  of 


Nearing  the  Goal  53 

your  death  you'd  better  not  tell  the  citizens  of 
Jasper  about  to-night's  occurrences." 

"  Come,  boys,  let  us  be  going,"  exclaimed 
Watson  impatiently,  as  he  offered  his  hand  to 
Mrs.  Hare,  and  said  to  that  lady  :  "  Thank  you 
for  the  best  supper  we've  had  since  we  left — 
home." 

Mrs.  Hare  refused  to  shake  hands,  but  she  re- 
garded Watson  with  an  admiring  expression. 
"I  won't  shake  hands  with  you,"  she  replied, 
half  smiling,  "  for  you  may  be  an  enemy  of  the 
South,  but  I'm  glad  you've  escaped  hanging. 
You've  too  much  grit  for  that.  As  for  you, 
Jake,  don't  ever  pretend  to  us  again  that  you're 
the  brainiest  man  in  the  county." 

"  Hold  your  tongue,  woman,"  cried  the  amia- 
ble farmer. 

In  a  couple  of  minutes  the  three  travelers  were 
striking  out  from  the  back  of  the  house  into  the 
slush,  and  rain,  and  blackness  of  the  night. 
Waggie  was  occupying  his  usual  place  inside  a 
pocket  of  George's  overcoat.  He  had  supped 
regally  at  the  Hares  on  bacon  and  bones,  and  he 
felt  warm  and  at  peace  with  the  world. 

Before  the  party  had  more  than  emerged  from 


54  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

the  garden  (a  task  by  no  means  easy  in  itself,  on 
account  of  the  darkness),  something  whistled  by 
them,  to  the  accompaniment  of  a  sharp  report. 
Looking  behind  them  they  saw  the  meagre  form 
of  Hare  standing  in  the  kitchen  doorway.  He 
held  a  rifle  in  his  right  hand.  The  kitchen  fire 
made  him  plainly  visible. 

"Pretty  good  aim,  old  boy,"  shouted  Mac- 
greggor,  "considering  you  could  hardly  see  us. 
But  I  can  see  you  plainly  enough." 

As  he  spoke  he  drew  his  revolver.  Hare  was 
already  putting  the  rifle  to  his  shoulder,  prepar- 
ing for  another  shot.  He  had  hardly  had  a 
chance  to  adjust  the  gun,  however,  before  he 
dropped  it  with  a  cry  of  pain  and  ran  into  the 
house.  A  bullet  had  come  whizzing  from  Mac- 
greggor,  and  struck  the  farmer  in  his  right  arm. 

"Just  a  little  souvenir  to  remember  me  by," 
laughed  the  lucky  marksman. 

"  Hurry  up ! "  cried  Watson.  "  To-morrow 
night  we  must  be  in  Marietta.  We  are  still 
many  miles  away,  and  in  a  hostile,  unknown 
country." 

So  the  three  pushed  on  into  the  gloom.  The 
prospect  of  meeting  James  Andrews  at  the  ap- 


Nearing  the  Goal  55; 

pointed  place  was  not  reassuring.  Their  only 
hope  was  to  keep  on  along  the  bank  of  the  Ten- 
nessee River  until  they  reached  Chattanooga. 
From  there  they  could  take  a  train  for  Marietta. 
"  Shall  we  make  it  ?  "  thought  George.  "Wag- 
gie  gave  a  muffled  bark  which  seemed  to  say : 
"  Courage ! " 


CHAPTER  III 

MINGLING  WITH  THE  ENEMY 

It  was  weary  work,  this  tramping  along  the 
Tennessee  shore,  through  mud,  or  fields  of  stub- 
ble, over  rocks,  or  amid  dripping  trees ;  but  the 
three  kept  on  towards  Chattanooga  for  a  couple 
of  hours,  until  all  the  good  effects  of  their  warm- 
ing at  Farmer  Hare's  were  quite  vanished.  Wat- 
son, having  showed  by  his  mother-wit  and  pres- 
ence of  mind  that  he  was  a  man  to  be  relied 
upon,  had  now  resumed  his  privilege  of  growling, 
and  gave  vent  to  many  angry  words  at  the 
roughness  and  unutterable  dreariness  of  the  way. 

"  Why  was  America  ever  discovered  by  that 
inquisitive,  prying  old  Christopher  Columbus  ?  " 
he  grunted,  after  he  had  tripped  over  the  stump 
of  a  cottonwood-tree,  and  fallen  flat  with  his 
face  in  the  slime.  "  If  he  had  never  discovered 
America  there  would  never  have  been  any 
United  States ;  had  there  never  been  any  United 
States  there  would  never  have  been  any  war  be- 

66 


Mingling  With  the  Enemy  57 

tween  Xorth  and  South ;  had  there  never  been 
any  war  between  North  and  South  I  wouldn't 
be  making  a  fool  of  myself  by  being  down  here. 
I  wish  that  fellow  Columbus  had  never  been 
born — or,  if  he  was  born,  that  he  had  never  been 
allowed  to  sail  off  for  America.     Ugh !  " 

In  a  few  minutes  they  reached  a  log  cabin 
situated  on  an  angle  of  land  where  a  little  stream 
emptied  itself  into  the  now  stormy  waters  of  the 
Tennessee  Eiver.  There  was  no  light  nor  sign 
of  life  about  the  mean  abode,  and  the  travelers 
were  almost  upon  it  before  they  saw  its  low  out- 
line in  the  dense  gloom. 

"Look  here,"  said  "Watson,  calling  a  halt. 
"  There's  no  use  in  our  trying  to  go  further  to- 
night. It's  too  dark  to  make  any  sort  of  time. 
And  we  are  far  enough  away  now  from  Jasper 
to  avoid  any  danger  of  pursuit — even  if  our 
amiable  friend  Mr.  Hare  should  inform  the 
Yigilants." 

"Don't  be  afraid  of  that,"  said  Macgreggor 
and  George  in  the  same  breath.  Hare  was  not 
likely  to  relate  a  joke  so  much  at  his  own  ex- 
pense as  their  clever  escape  had  proved.  Even 
if  he  did,  they  reasoned,  the  chances  of  capture 


58  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

were  now  rather  slim,  whatever  they  might  have 
been  when  the  three  fugitives  were  nearer  Jasper. 

"Then  let  us  get  a  few  hours'  sleep  in  this 
cabin,"  urged  Watson.  "Some  negro  probably 
lives  here — and  we  can  tell  him  our  usual  Ken- 
tucky story.  Give  the  door  a  pound,  George, 
and  wake  him  up." 

George  used  first  his  hands  and  then  his  boots 
on  the  door,  in  a  vain  effort  to  make  some  one 
hear.  He  took  Waggie  out  of  his  pocket,  and 
the  shrill  little  barks  of  the  dog  added  to  the 
noise  as  he  jumped  around  his  master's  feet. 

"Let's  break  the  door  down,"  urged  Mac- 
greggor.  "  The  seven  sleepers  must  live  here. 
"We  might  pound  all  night  and  not  get  in." 

With  one  accord  the  three  threw  themselves 
vigorously  against  the  door.  They  expected  to 
meet  with  some  resistance,  due  to  a  bolt  or  two ; 
but,  instead  of  that,  the  door  flew  open  so  sud- 
denly that  they  were  precipitated  into  the  cabin, 
and  lay  sprawling  on  the  ground.  It  had  been 
latched  but  neither  locked  nor  bolted. 

"We  were  too  smart  that  time,"  growled 
Watson,  as  the  three  picked  themselves  up,  to 
the  great  excitement  of  Waggie.     "The  place 


Mingling  With  the  Enemy  59 

must  be  deserted.  So  much  the  better  for  us. 
We  can  get  a  little  sleep  without  having  to  go 
into  explanations." 

He  drew  from  inside  his  greatcoat,  with  much 
care,  three  or  four  matches.  By  lighting,  first 
one  and  then  the  others,  he  was  able  to  grope 
around  until  he  found  the  hearth  of  the  cabin. 
Cold  ashes  marked  the  remains  of  a  fire  long 
since  extinguished.  His  foot  struck  against 
something  which  proved  to  be  a  small  piece  of 
dry  pine-wood.  With  the  flame  from  his  last 
match  Watson  succeeded  in  lighting  this  rem- 
nant of  kindling.  He  carefully  nursed  the  new 
flame  until  the  stick  blazed  forth  like  a  torch. 
Then  the  travelers  had  a  chance  to  examine  the 
one  room  which  formed  the  whole  interior  of  the 
lonely  place.  The  cabin  was  deserted.  It  con- 
tained not  a  bit  of  furniture ;  nothing,  indeed, 
save  bare  walls  of  logs,  and  rude  mortar,  and  a 
clean  pine  floor. 

"  This  palace  can't  be  renting  at  a  very  high 
price,"  remarked  Macgreggor,  sarcastically. 

"  It  will  do  us  well  enough  for  a  few  hours' 
sleep,"  said  George. 

Watson  nodded  his  head  in  assent.     "It's  a 


6o  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

shelter  from  the  rain,  at  least,"  he  said,  "and 
that's  something  on  such  a  pesky  night."  While 
he  was  speaking  the  rush  of  the  rain  without 
confirmed  the  truth  of  his  words,  and  suggested 
that  any  roof  was  better  than  none.  Ere  long 
the  pine  stick  burned  itself  out ;  the  intruders 
were  left  in  absolute  darkness.  But  they  quickly 
disposed  themselves  on  the  floor,  where,  worn 
out  by  the  fatigues  of  the  day  and  the  stirring 
adventure  of  the  evening,  they  were  soon  fast 
asleep.  They  had  closed  the  door,  near  which 
Waggie  had  settled  his  little  body  in  the  ca- 
pacity of  a  sentinel.  George  dreamed  of  his 
father.  He  saw  him  standing  at  the  window  of 
a  prison,  as  he  stretched  his  hands  through  the 
bars  and  cried  out :  "  George,  I  am  here — here ! 
Help  me !  "  Then  the  boy's  dream  changed.  He 
was  back  in  the  dark  woods  near  Shelbyville, 
listening  to  Andrews  as  the  leader  outlined  the 
expedition  in  which  they  were  now  engaged.  In 
the  middle  of  the  conference  some  one  cried : 
"  The  Confederates  are  on  us  !  "  George  tried  to 
run,  but  something  pinned  him  to  the  ground — 
a  wild  animal  was  at  his  throat. 

He     awoke     with     a    start,     to    find     that 


Mingling  With  the  Enemy  6l 

Waggie  was  leaping  upon  his  chest,  barking 
furiously. 

"  Hush  up,  you  little  rascal ! "  ordered  George. 
He  felt  very  sleepy,  and  he  was  angry  at  being 
aroused.  But  "Waggie  went  on  barking  until  he 
had  succeeded  in  awakening  Macgreggor  and 
"Watson,  and  convincing  his  master  that  some- 
thing was  wrong. 

""What's  the  trouble?"  demanded  Wat- 
son. 

"  Listen,"  said  George,  softly.  He  was  on  his 
feet  in  an  instant,  as  he  ran  first  to  one  and  then 
to  the  other  of  the  two  windows  which  graced 
the  cabin.  These  windows,  however,  were  barri- 
caded with  shutters.  He  hurried  to  the  door, 
which  he  opened  a  few  inches.  The  rain  had 
now  stopped,  and  he  could  hear,  perhaps  a  quar- 
ter of  a  mile  away,  the  sound  of  horses  moving 
cautiously  through  the  mud,  along  the  river 
bank.  In  a  twinkling  "Watson  and  Macgreggor 
were  at  his  side,  straining  their  ears. 

"  Can  it  be  cavalry  ?  "  asked  Macgreggor. 

"  Mounted  men  at  least,"  whispered  "Watson. 
"Perhaps  the  Yigilants  are  on  our  track,  bad 
luck  to  them  ! " 


62  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

"  Can  Hare  have  told  them,  after  all  ?  "  que- 
ried George. 

"  Don't  know  about  that,"  muttered  Watson, 
"  but  I  think  we  have  the  gentlemen  from  Jasper 
to  deal  with  once  again." 

"  Let's  decamp  into  the  darkness  before  it's 
too  late,"  said  Macgreggor. 

"  Come,  come,"  whispered  Watson  impatiently. 
"If  they  are  on  the  scent,  and  we  leave  this  hut, 
they  will  only  run  us  to  earth  like  hounds  after 
a  fox." 

The  baying  of  dogs  which  were  evidently  ac- 
companying the  party  gave  a  sudden  and  terrible 
effect  to  the  force  of  Watson's  argument.  And 
now  the  Yigilants,  if  such  they  were,  came  nearer 
and  nearer.  The  three  Northerners  who  listened 
so  anxiously  at  the  doorway  could  already  detect 
the  sound  of  voices. 

"  There's  but  one  thing  for  us  to  do,"  quickly 
murmured  Watson.  "We  must  stay  in  this 
cabin." 

"But  they  won't  pass  the  place  by,"  urged 
Macgreggor.  "  If  they  know  it  to  be  deserted 
by  a  tenant  this  is  the  very  reason  for  their 
looking  in  to  see  if  we  are  hiding  here.     And 


Mingling  With  the  Enemy  63 

when  it  comes  to  defending  ourselves,  how  can 
we  put  up  any  sort  of  barricade  ?  " 

"  When  you  can't  use  force,  or  hide  yourself, 
try  a  little  strategy,"  answered  the  soldier. 
"  Can  either  of  you  fellows  talk  like  a  darky  ?  " 

"  Not  I,"  said  Macgreggor.  Had  he  been 
asked  if  he  could  speak  Hebrew,  he  would  not 
have  been  more  surprised. 

"Can  you,  George?"  asked  Watson,  as  he 
shut  the  door. 

"  I  might,"  whispered  George.  "When  I  was 
up  in  Cincinnati  we  boys  used " 

*'  Never  mind  what  you  boys  did — only  do  as  I 
tell  you,  and  if  you  can  give  a  good  imitation 
you  may  save  us  from  arrest,  and  worse  ! " 

The  horsemen  now  seemed  to  be  within  a  few 
yards  of  the  cabin.  They  had  evidently  halted 
for  consultation.  Meanwhile  Watson  was  whis- 
pering some  instructions  to  George.  After  he 
had  finished  he  leaned  against  the  door  with  his 
whole  weight,  and  indicated  to  Macgreggor  that 
he  was  to  do  the  same  thing.  The  latter 
obeyed  in  silence. 

The  horsemen  without  made  a  great  deal  of 
clatter.     If  they  were  pursuing  the  fugitives  they 


64  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

did  not  seem  to  think  secrecy  of  movement  very 
necessary.  "  Whose  cabin  is  this  ?  "  demanded 
one  of  them. 

"  It  did  belong  to  old  Sam  Curtis,  but  he's 
moved  away,  down  to  Alabama,"  some  one 
answ^ered. 

"  Some  darky  may  live  in  it  now,  eh  ?  "  said 
the  first  voice. 

"  Perhaps  it's  empty,  and  these  tarnation 
spies  are  in  it,"  was  the  rejoinder  in  a  lower 
tone. 

The  men  moved  their  horses  closer  to  the 
house,  which  they  quickly  surrounded.  No 
chance  now  for  any  one  to  escape ;  it  seemed  as 
if  the  three  men  in  the  cabin  must  inevitably  be 
caught  like  rats  in  a  trap.  Yet  they  waited  cou- 
rageously, breathlessly.  It  was  a  tense  moment. 
Another  minute  would  decide  their  fate.  "Would 
they  remain  free  men,  or  would  they  fall  into  the 
hands  of  their  pursuers,  with  all  the  consequences 
that  such  a  capture  implied  ? 

Already  one  of  the  Vigilants,  evidently  the 
leader,  had  dismounted.  Approaching  the  door 
of  the  cabin,  he  gave  it  a  push  as  if  he  expected 
it  w^ould  open  at  once.     But  there  was  no  yield- 


Mingling  With  the  Enemy  65 

ing ;  Watson  and  Macgreggor  were  still  leaning 
firmly  against  the  other  side. 

The  leader  began  to  knock  on  the  door  with  a 
revolver.  "  Here,  here,"  he  shouted  ;  "  if  there's 
any  one  in  this  cabin,  come  out — or  we'D  have 
you  out ! " 

At  first  there  was  no  response,  save  a  bark 
from  Waggie.  The  leader  rattled  savagely  at 
the  door.  "Let's  break  in,"  he  cried  to  his  com- 
panions, ''and  see  if  the  place  has  any  one  in 
it!" 

The  A^igilants  were  about  to  follow  the  ex- 
ample of  their  leader,  and  dismount  when  there 
came  a  wheedling  voice — apparently  the  voice  of 
a  negress — from  within  the  cabin. 

"What  you  gemraen  want  dis  time  o'  night 
wid  poor  Aunty  Dinah  ?  " 

"  A  nigger's  living  here,"  muttered  the  leader, 
in  surprise. 

"  What  for  you  gwyne  to  disturb  an  ole  nig- 
gah  at  dis  hour  ?  "    asked  the  voice  from  within. 

"  It's  all  right,  aunty,"  called  out  the  leader. 
"  We  only  want  some  information.  Come  to  the 
door." 

"  In  one  minute  I  be  with  you,"  was  the  an- 


66  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

swer.  "  I'se  a  nursin'  my  old  man  here — he 
done  gone  and  took  the  smallpox — and " 

The  smallpox !  Had  the  voice  announced  that 
a  million  Union  troops  were  descending  upon  the 
party  the  consternation  would  not  have  been 
half  as  great.  The  smallpox !  At  the  mention 
of  that  dreaded  name,  and  at  the  thought  that 
they  were  so  close  to  contagion,  the  Vigilants, 
with  one  accord,  put  spurs  into  their  horses  and 
rushed  madly  away.  The  leader,  dropping  his 
revolver  in  his  excitement,  and  not  even  stopping 
to  pick  it  up,  leaped  upon  his  horse  and  joined 
in  the  inglorious  retreat.  On,  on,  dashed  the 
men  until  they  reached  the  town  of  Jasper,  tired 
and  provoked.  Like  many  other  men,  North  or 
South,  they  were  brave  enough  when  it  came  to 
gunpowder,  but  were  quickly  vanquished  at  the 
idea  of  pestilential  disease. 

"  Bah  !  "  cried  the  leader,  as  they  all  reined  up 
in  front  of  the  village  tavern,  which  now  looked 
dark  and  uninviting;  "  those  three  spies,  if  spies 
they  are,  can  go  to  Guinea  for  all  I  care.  I  shall 
hunt  them  no  more." 

There  was  a  general  murmur  of  assent  to  this 
fervent  remark.    One  of  the  Vigilants  said,  in  ai^ 


Mingling  With  the  Enemy  67 

injured  tone :  "  I  wish  Jake  Hare  was  at  the 
bottom  of  the  ocean  !  " 

In  explanation  of  which  charitable  sentiment 
it  may  be  explained  that  Farmer  Hare,  on  the 
departure  of  Watson,  Macgreggor  and  George 
Knight,  had  run  all  the  way  to  Jasper.  Here  he 
told  the  Vigilants  that  the  three  men  had  re- 
turned in  the  boat  (which  he  had  previously 
declared  they  had  taken)  and  landed  on  the  bank 
of  the  river.  They  could  be  easily  caught,  he 
said.  He  carefully  suppressed  any  account  of  the 
way  in  which  he  had  been  outwitted  by  Watson. 
The  fact  was  that  Hare  made  up  his  mind,  logic- 
ally enough,  that  the  fugitives  would  keep  along 
the  Tennessee  until  morning  came,  and  as  he  had 
seen  the  direction  they  had  taken  he  determined 
to  set  the  Yigilants  on  their  track.  His  scheme, 
as  we  have  seen,  was  nearly  crowned  with  success. 
****** 

"  A  miss  is  as  good  as  a  mile,",  laughed  Wat- 
son, as  he  stood  with  his  two  companions  in  the 
pitch  black  interior  of  the  cabin,  listening  to  the 
last  faint  sounds  of  the  retreating  Vigilants. 

"There's  nothing  like  smallpox,  eh?"  said 
George. 


68  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

"Or  nothing  like  a  boy  who  can  imitate  a 
darky's  voice,"  put  in  Macgreggor.  "Where 
did  you  learn  the  art,  George  ?  " 

"  We  boys  in  Cincinnati  had  a  minstrel  com- 
pany of  our  own,"  the  boy  explained,  "and  I 
used  to  play  negro  parts." 

"I'll  never  call  the  minstrels  stupid  again," 
said  Watson,  "  They  have  been  instrumental  in 
saving  our  lives." 

"  Rather  say  it  was  your  own  brains  that  did 
it,"  interposed  George. 

So  they  talked  until  daybreak,  for  they  found 
it  impossible  to  sleep.  Meanwhile  the  weather 
had  changed.  When  the  sun  came  peeping  over 
the  horizon,  between  tearful  clouds,  as  if  afraid 
that  it  was  almost  too  damp  for  him  to  be  out, 
the  trio  were  pushing  cautiously  along  the  bank 
of  the  Tennessee,  in  the  direction  of  Chattanooga. 

"  I  don't  know  who  brought  the  Vigilants  out 
for  us  the  second  time,  unless  it  was  our  dear 
friend  Hare,  and  I  don't  know  whether  they  will 
give  us  another  chase  this  morning,"  said  Wat- 
son, as  they  were  laboriously  ascending  one  of 
the  mountain  spurs  which  led  down  to  the  river 
shore,  "  but  we  must  go  steadily  on,  and  trust  to 


Mingling  With  the  Enemy  69 

luck.  To  delay  would  be  fatal.  This  is  Friday 
— and  we  must  be  in  Marietta  by  this  evening." 

On  they  trudged,  over  rocks  and  paths  that 
would  have  taxed  the  ability  of  a  nimble-footed 
chamois,  as  they  wondered  how  the  rest  of  their 
friends  were  faring,  and  where  might  be  the  in- 
trepid Andrews.  Sometimes  Waggie  scampered 
joyously  on ;  sometimes  he  reposed  in  his  mas- 
ter's overcoat.  The  clouds  had  now  cleared 
away;  the  sun  was  shining  serenely  over  the 
swollen  and  boisterous  waters  of  the  crooked 
Tennessee.  Nature  Avas  once  more  preparing  to 
smile. 

"I'm  getting  frightfully  hungry,"  cried 
George,  about  noon-time.  "  I  wouldn't  mind 
a  bit  of  breakfast." 

"  There's  where  we  may  get  some,"  said  Mac- 
greggor.  He  pointed  to  an  old-fashioned  colo- 
nial house  of  brick,  with  a  white  portico,  which 
they  could  see  in  the  centre  of  a  large  open  tract 
about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  back  of  the  river.  The 
smoke  was  curling  peacefully  from  one  of  the 
two  great  chimneys,  as  if  offering  a  mute  invita- 
tion to  a  stranger  to  enter  the  house  and  partake 
of  what  was  being  cooked  within.     In  a  field  in 


yo  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

front  of  the  mansion  cattle  were  grazing,  and  the 
jingle  of  their  bells  sounded  sweetly  in  the  dis- 
tance. No  one  would  dream,  to  look  at  such  an 
attractive  picture,  that  the  grim  Spectre  of  War 
stalked  in  the  land. 

"  Shall  Ave  go  up  to  the  house,  and  ask  for 
something?"  suggested  Macgreggor,  who  was 
blessed  with  a  healthy  appetite. 

Watson  looked  a  little  doubtful.  "There's 
no  use  in  our  showing  ourselves  any  more  than 
is  necessary,"  he  said.  "Rather  than  risk  our 
necks,  we  had  better  go  on  empty  stomachs  till 
we  reach  Chattanooga." 

But  such  a  look  of  disappointment  crept  over 
the  faces  of  George  and  Macgreggor,  and  even 
seemed  to  be  reflected  in  the  shaggy  countenance 
of  Waggie,  that  Watson  relented. 

"  After  all,"  he  said,  "  there's  no  reason  why 
there  should  be  any  more  danger  here  than  in 
Chattanooga  or  Marietta.  Let's  make  a  break 
for  the  house,  and  ask  for  a  meal." 

Hardly  had  he  spoken  before  they  were  all 
three  hurrying  towards  the  mansion.  When  at 
last  they  stood  under  the  portico,  George  seized 
the  quaint  brass  knocker  of  the  front  door,  and 


Mingling  With  the  Enemy  71 

gave  it  a  brisk  rap.  After  some  delay  a  very  fat 
negress  opened  the  door,  and  eyed  the  strangers 
rather  suspiciously.  Their  tramp  over  the  coun- 
try had  not  improved  their  appearance,  and  her 
supercilious,  inquisitive  look  was  not  strange, 
under  the  circumstances. 

"  What  you  folks  want  ?  "  she  asked,  putting 
her  big  arms  akimbo  in  an  uncompromising 
attitude.  Watson  was  about  to  reply  when  an 
attractive  voice,  with  the  soft  accent  so  charac- 
teristic of  the  Southerners,  called  :  "  What  is  it, 
Ethiopia  ?    Any  one  to  see  me  ?  " 

The  next  instant  a  kindly-faced,  gentlewoman 
of  about  fifty  stood  in  the  doorway. 

"  Is  there  anything  I  can  do  for  you  ? "  she 
asked  pleasantly. 

Macgreggor  proceeded  to  tell  the  customary 
story  about  their  being  on  their  way  from  Ken- 
tucky to  join  the  Confederate  army  further 
south.  His  heart  smote  him  as  he  did  so,  for 
she  was  so  gentle  and  sympathetic  in  her  manner 
that  he  loathed  to  practice  any  deception,  how- 
ever necessary ;  but  there  was  no  help  for  it. 
So  he  ended  by  asking  for  something  to  eat. 

"  Come  in,"  said  the  mistress  of  the  mansion, 


72  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

for  such  she  proved  to  be,  "  and  take  any  poor 
hospitality  I  can  offer  you.  My  husband,  Mr. 
Page,  and  both  my  children  are  away,  fighting 
under  General  Lee,  and  I  am  only  too  glad  to  do 
anything  I  can  for  others  who  are  helping  the 
great  cause."  She  smiled  sweetly  at  George,  and 
patted  his  dog.  The  boy  regarded  her  almost 
sheepishly ;  he,  too,  hated  the  idea  of  imposing  on 
so  cordial  a  hostess. 

Mrs.  Page  led  the  party  into  a  great  colonial 
hallway,  embellished  with  family  portraits. 
"  By-the-way,"  she  added,  "  there  is  a  Confed- 
erate officer  in  the  house  now — Major  Lightfoot, 
of  the  — th  Virginia  Regiment.  He  reached 
here  this  morning  from  Richmond  and  goes  to 
Chattanooga  this  afternoon  on  a  special  mission." 

"Watson  bit  his  lip.  "We're  coming  to  too 
close  quarters  with  the  enemy,"  he  thought,  and 
he  felt  like  retreating  from  the  mansion  with  his 
companions.  But  it  was  too  late.  Such  a  move 
would  only  excite  suspicion,  or,  worse  still, 
lead  to  pursuit.  "We  must  face  the  thing 
through,"  he  muttered,  "  and  trust  to  our  wits." 

Mrs.  Page  ushered  the  strangers,  including  the 
delighted  "Waggie,  into  a  large,  handsomely  pan- 


Mingling  With  the  Enemy  73 

eled  (lining-room  on  the  left  of  the  hallway. 
She  made  them  gather  around  an  unset  table. 
"  Sit  here  for  a  few  minutes,"  she  said,  "and  the 
servants  will  bring  you  the  best  that  Page 
Manor  can  offer  you.  In  the  meantime,  I'll  send 
Major  Lightfoot  to  see  you.  He  may  be  able  to 
help  3^ou  in  some  way." 

She  closed  the  door  and  was  gone.  "  I  wish 
this  Major  Lightfoot,  whoever  he  is,  was  in  Pata- 
gonia at  the  present  moment,"  whispered  Watson. 
"  It's  easy  enough  to  deceive  the  Southern  coun- 
try bumpkins,  and  make  them  think  you  are  Con- 
federates, but  when  you  get  among  people  with 
more  intelligence,  like  officers " 

"  What  difference  does  it  make  ?  "  interrupted 
Macgreggor,  looking  longingly  at  a  mahogany 
sideboard.  "  Didn't  you  hear  Mrs.  Page  say  the 
Major  was  a  Virginian  ?  He  doesn't  know  any- 
thing about  Kentucky." 

"  That's  lucky,"  laughed  Watson,  "  for  we 
don't  either." 

"  Hush ! "  came  the  warning  from  George. 
The  door  opened,  and  several  negro  servants  be- 
gan to  bring  in  a  cold  dinner.  What  a  meal  it 
was  too,  when  the  time  came  to  partake  of  it, 


74  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

and  how  grateful  the  three  hungry  travelers  felt 
to  the  mistress  of  the  house.  When  it  had  been 
disposed  of,  and  the  servants  had  left  the  dining- 
room,  George  said,  almost  under  his  breath  : 
"  Hadn't  we  better  be  off  ?  "We  have  a  good 
number  of  miles  yet,  between  here  and  Mari- 
etta." 

Watson  was  about  to  rise  from  the  table  when 
the  door  opened  to  admit  a  tall,  stalwart  man  of 
about  thirty,  whose  cold,  gray-blue  eyes  and  reso- 
lute mouth  denoted  one  who  was  not  to  be  trifled 
with.  He  was  dressed  in  the  gray  uniform  of  a 
Confederate  officer,  but  he  had,  presumably,  left 
his  sword  and  pistols  in  another  room.  The  vis- 
itors stood  up  as  he  entered. 

"  Glad  to  see  you,  my  men,"  he  said,  shaking 
hands  with  each  one 

"  Is  this  Major  Lightfoot  ? "  asked  Watson, 
trying  to  look  delighted,  but  not  making  a  bril- 
liant success  of  it. 

"  Yes,"  returned  the  Major,  "  I  hear  you  boys 
are  Kentuckians." 

"  We  are,"  said  Macgreggor  stoutly  ;  "  we  are 
ready  to  die  for  our  country,  and  so  we  are  jour- 
neying southward  to  enlist." 


Mingling  With  the  Enemy  75 

"  You're  a  pretty  young  chap  to  take  up  arms," 
observed  the  Major,  eyeing  George  keenly. 

"  One  is  never  too  young  to  do  that,"  answered 
the  boy.  He  was  determined  to  put  a  bold  face 
on  the  affair,  and  he  saw  no  reason  why  the  Con- 
federate officer  should  suspect  him  if  he  spoke 
up  unhesitatingly. 

"The  South  has  need  of  all  her  loyal  sons," 
remarked  "Watson,  who  felt  no  compunction  in 
deceiving  the  Major,  whatever  might  have  been 
his  sentiments  as  to  hoodwinking  Mrs.  Page. 

"  So  you  all  come  from  Kentucky?"  went  on 
the  officer.  "That  interests  me,  for  I  come  from 
Kentucky  myself ! " 

The  jaws  of  the  three  strangers  dropped  simul- 
taneously. Had  a  bomb  fallen  at  their  feet 
they  could  not  have  been  more  disconcerted. 
What  did  they  know  about  Kentucky,  if  they 
had  to  be  put  through  a  series  of  cross-questions 
by  a  native !  But  there  was  no  reason,  after  all, 
why  the  Major  should  dwell  on  the  subject. 

"  I  thought  Mrs.  Page  said  you  belonged  to  a 
Yirginia  regiment,"  exclaimed  Macgreggor,  al- 
most involuntarily. 

"  So  I  do,"  replied  the  Major,  "  but  I  only  set- 


76  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

tied  in  Virginia  two  years  ago.  I  was  born  and 
bred  in  Kentucky,  and  tliere's  no  state  lilve  it — 
now  is  there  ?  " 

"  No !  "  cried  the  trio,  with  a  well-feigned  at- 
tempt at  enthusiasm.  They  felt  that  they  were 
treading  on  dangerous  ground,  and  resolved  to 
play  their  parts  as  well  as  they  could. 

"  Do  you  all  come  from  the  same  part  of  Ken- 
tucky ?  "  queried  the  Major,  as  he  sat  down  on  a 
chair,  evidently  prepared  for  a  pleasant  chat. 

"  From  Fleming  County,"  said  Watson  care- 
lessly, quite  as  if  he  knew  every  other  county  in 
the  State.  *'  I  fear,  sir,  we  must  be  moving  on 
towards  Chattanooga.  We  are  in  a  hurry  to  en- 
list, and  we  have  already  been  delayed  too 
long." 

The  Major  completely  ignored  the  latter  part 
of  this  sentence.  "  From  Fleming  County,"  he 
said.  "Well,  that's  pleasant  news.  I  know 
Fleming  County  like  a  book.  There  is  where  my 
father  lived  and  died.  What  part  of  the  county 
do  you  come  from  ?  " 

Had  the  Major  asked  them  to  tell  the  area  of 
the  United  States  in  square  inches  he  could  not 
have  propounded  a  more  puzzling  question. 


Mingling  With  the  Enemy  77 

"  D under  and  blitzen ; "  thought  Watson.  "  If 
I  only  knew  more  of  Kentucky  geography  I 
might  get  myself  out  of  this  scrape." 

"  We  come  from  the  southeastern  part  of  the 
count}^,"  said  Macgreggor,  after  an  awkward 
pause. 

"  Kear  what  town  ?  " 

Another  pause.  Oh,  for  the  name  of  a  town 
in  the  southeastern  part  of  Fleming  County,  Ken- 
tucky. The  Major  was  looking  at  the  visitors 
curiously.  Why  this  sudden  reticence  on  their 
part? 

At  last  Watson  spoke  up,  although  evasively. 
"  We  were  a  long  distance  from  any  town ;  we 
worked  on  adjoining  farms,  and  when  the  call  to 
arms  came  we  determined  to  rush  to  the  rescue 
of  our  beloved  Southland." 

The  Major  gave  Watson  one  searching  look. 
"  Humph  !  "  said  he,  "  that's  all  very  pretty,  and 
I'm  glad  you  are  so  patriotic — but  that  won't 
do.  What  is  the  nearest  town  to  the  places  you 
live  in  ?  " 

The  name  of  Carlisle  flashed  through  Watson's 
mind.  He  recalled  that  it  was  somewhere  in  the 
part  of  Kentucky  in  which  Fleming  County  was 


yS  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

situated.  A  man  he  knew  had  once  lived  there. 
He  would  risk  it. 

"  The  nearest  town  is  Carlisle,"  he  said  shortly. 
"And  now,  Major,  we  really  must  be  off !  Good- 
bye ! " 

He  started  for  the  door,  followed  by  George 
and  Macgreggor,  who  were  both  devoutly  wish- 
ing that  such  a  state  as  Kentucky  had  never  ex- 
isted. 

"Wait  a  second,"  suddenly  commanded  the 
Southerner,  stepping  in  front  of  the  door  to  bar 
the  way.  "  You  seem  to  be  strangely  ignorant 
of  your  own  county.  Carlisle  happens  to  be  in 
the  adjoining  county." 

"  Here,  sir,  we're  not  here  to  be  examined  by 
you,  as  if  we  "were  in  the  witness  box,"  cried 
Watson,  who  hoped  to  carry  the  situation  through 
with  a  strong  hand.  He  would  try  a  little 
bluster. 

A  sarcastic  smile  crossed  the  firm  face  of  Major 
Lightfoot.  "Don't  try  to  bluff  me,"  he  said 
quietly  but  sternly ;  "  for  it  won't  work.  I  see 
very  clearly  that  you  fellows  have  never  been  in 
Fleming  County,  nor  do  I  think  you  have  ever 
been  in  Kentucky  at  all,  for  the  matter  of  that. 


Mingling  With  the  Enemy  79 

You  certainly  talk  more  like  Yankees  than  Ken. 
tuckians." 

"  Then  you  don't  believe  us  ?  "  asked  Macgreg- 
gor,  trying  to  assume  an  air  of  injured  innocence. 

"Certainly  not,"  answered  the  Major.  He 
folded  his  arras,  and  regarded  the  visitors  as  if 
he  were  trying  to  read  their  inmost  thoughts. 
"  You  are  lying  to  me !  And  as  you've  lied  to 
me  about  coming  from  Kentucky,  it's  quite  as 
likely  you've  lied  to  me  about  your  being  on  your 
way  to  enlist  in  the  Confederate  army.  For  all 
I  know  you  may  be  Union  spies.  In  short,  my 
friends,  you  are  acting  in  the  most  suspicious 
way,  and  I  put  you  under  arrest !  " 

George's  heart  sank  within  him.  He  was  not 
afraid  of  being  arrested,  but  to  think  that  he 
might  never  take  part  in  the  bridge-burning  ex- 
pedition.    Lightfoot  turned  the  key  in  the  door. 

Watson  walked  up  to  the  Major,  and  tapped 
him  on  the  shoulder.  "  Look  here,"  he  said,  in 
the  tone  of  a  man  who  is  quite  sure  of  his  posi- 
tion. "  You  talk  about  putting  us  under  arrest, 
but  you're  only  playing  a  game  of  bluff  yourself. 
We  are  three  to  your  one — and  I'd  like  to  know 
what  is  to  prevent  our  walking  out  of  this  house, 


8o  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

and  knocking  you  down,  too — or,  if  you  prefer, 
shooting  you — if  you  attempt  to  stop  us  ?  " 

Lightfoot  laughed,  in  a  superior  sort  of  way. 
"  Go,  if  you  want,"  he  said  curtly ;  "  but  I  don't 
think  you'll  go  very  far."  His  eyes  glistened,  as 
if  he  thought  the  whole  scene  rather  a  good  joke. 
"  Half  a  mile  back  of  this  mansion  there's  a  squad- 
ron of  Confederate  cavalry  picketed.  If  I  give 
them  the  alarm  they'll  scour  the  whole  country- 
side for  you,  and  you'll  all  be  in  their  hands 
within  an  hour." 

"Watson  turned  pale.  It  was  the  paleness  of 
vexation  rather  than  of  fear.  "  Why  were  we 
fools  enough  to  come  to  this  house,"  he  thought. 
He  knew  how  quickly  they  could  be  caught  by 
cavalrymen. 

The  Major  smiled  in  a  tantalizing  manner.  "I 
think  you  will  take  my  advice  and  surrender,"  he 
said,  sitting  down  carelessly  in  a  chair  and  swing- 
ing one  of  his  long  legs  over  the  other.  "  If,  on 
investigation,  it  proves  that  you  are  not  spies, 
you  will  be  allowed  to  go  on  your  way.  If  there's 
any  doubt  about  it,  however,  you  will  be  sent  to 
Kichmond." 

Macgreggor,  with  a  bound,  leaped  in  front  of 


Mingling  With  the  Enemy  8l 

the  Confederate,  and,  pulb'ng  out  a  revolver, 
pointed  it  at  Lightfoot's  head,  "  Unless  you 
promise  not  to  have  us  followed,  you  shan't  leave 
this  room  alive !  "  he  cried  with  the  tone  of  a  man 
daring  everything  for  liberty.  George  fully  ex- 
pected to  see  the  officer  falter,  for  he  had  seen 
that  the  Major  was  unarmed. 

But  Lightfoot  did  nothing  of  the  kind.  On 
the  contrary,  he  gave  one  of  his  provoking 
laughs,  "  Don't  go  into  heroics,"  he  said,  push- 
ing Macgreggor  away  as  though  he  were  "  shooh- 
ing "  off  a  cat.  "  You  know  I  would  promise 
anything,  and  the  second  3'^our  backs  were  turned 
I'd  give  the  alarm.  You  don't  think  I  would  be 
fool  enough  to  see  you  fellows  walking  away 
without  making  a  trial  to  get  you  back  ?  " 

Macgreggor  hesitated,  as  he  looked  at  George 
and  Watson.  Then  he  answered  fiercely,  han- 
dling his  pistol  ominously  the  meanwhile: 
"  We've  but  one  chance — and  we'll  take  it !  We 
will  never  let  you  leave  this  room  alive,  promise 
or  no  promise.  You  are  unarmed,  and  there  are 
three  of  us,  armed." 

The  Major  did  not  seem  to  be  at  all  startled. 
He  merely  changed  the  position  of  his  legs,  as  he 


82  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

answered:  "Killing  me  wouldn't  do  you  any 
good,  my  boy !  If  you  do  shoot  me  before  I  can 
escape  from  the  room  the  shooting  would  only 
alarm  the  house — the  cavalry  would  be  sum- 
moned by  Mrs.  Page,  and  you  would  find  your- 
self worse  off  even  than  you  are  now." 

Watson  touched  Macgreggor  on  the  shoulder. 
"  The  Major's  right,"  he  said ;  "  we  would  only 
be  shooting  down  a  man  in  cold  blood,  and 
gaining  nothing  by  it.  He  has  trapped  us — 
and,  so  long  as  those  plagued  cavalrymen  are  so 
near,  we  had  better  submit.  I  think  I've  got  as 
much  courage  as  the  next  man,  but  I  don't  be- 
lieve in  butting  one's  head  against  a  stone  wall." 

Macgreggor  sullenly  replaced  his  pistol.  lie 
could  not  but  see  the  force  of  Watson's  reasoning. 
The  Major  rose  to  his  feet.  He  was  smiling 
away  again,  as  if  he  were  enjoying  himself. 

"  We  surrender !  "  announced  Watson  with  a 
woebegone  expression  on  his  strong  face. 

"You'll  admit,"  said  Lightfoot,  "that  I  was 
too  clever  for  you  ?  " 

There  was  no  answer.  George  picked  up 
Waggie.  "  Can  I  take  my  dog  along  with  us, 
wherever  we  go  ?  "    he  asked. 


The  Major  Merely  Chanh;eu  the   Pkshion  ov   11  is   LE^■^ 


Mingling  With  the  Enemy  83 

The  Major  suddenly  advanced  towards  George, 
and  patted  the  tiny  animal.  "  Hello !  Waggie, 
how  are  you,  old  man?"    he  cried. 

George  gasped.  "  How  on  earth  did  you  know 
Waggle's  name  ?  "  he  asked.  For  Waggie  had 
been  chewing  at  a  bone  on  the  floor  ever 
since  the  entrance  of  the  Confederate,  and  his 
master  had  not  addressed  a  word  to  him  during 
that  time. 

"I  know  his  name  almost  as  well  as  I  do 
yours,  George  Knight,"  said  Lightfoot. 

In  his  excitement  George  dropped  "Waggie 
on  a  chair.  The  three  Northerners  heard  this 
last  announcement  with  open-mouthed  astonish- 
ment. 

Lightfoot  burst  into  a  great  laugh  that  made 
the  mystery  the  more  intense.  "Why,  com- 
rades," he  cried,  "  I  ought  to  go  on  the  stage ;  I 
had  no  idea  I  was  such  a  good  actor.  Don't  you 
know  your  friend,  Walter  Jenks  ?  "  The  South- 
ern accent  of  the  speaker  had  suddenly  disap- 
peared. 

The  listeners  stood  dumfounded.  Then  the 
whole  situation  dawned  upon  them.  They  had 
been  most  gloriously  and    successfully   duped. 


84  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

This  Major  Lightfoot  was  none  other  than  Wal- 
ter Jenks,  a  sergeant  from  General  Mitchell's 
carap,  whom  Andrews  had  sent  out  on  the  bridge- 
burning  party,  lie  had  shaved  off  his  beard, 
and  assumed  a  Southern  accent  (something  he 
was  able  to  do  because  he  was  a  Marylander),  so 
that  the  guests  at  the  Page  mansion  had  failed  to 
recognize  him. 

Jenks  shook  the  three  warmly  by  the  hand. 
"  It  was  a  mean  trick  to  play  on  you  fellows,"  he 
explained,  lowering  his  voice,  "  but  for  the  life 
of  me  I  couldn't  resist  the  temptation." 

"  How  on  earth  did  you  turn  up  here  in  the 
guise  of  a  Confederate  oflSicer  ?  "  asked  Watson, 
who  now  felt  a  sense  of  exhilaration  in  knowing 
that  he  might  yet  join  Andrews  at  Marietta. 

"It  is  too  long  a  story  to  tell,"  Avhispered 
Jenks.  "  I'll  only  say  here  that  I  got  lost  from 
the  other  two  fellows  I  was  traveling  with — was 
suspected  of  being  a  spy  in  one  of  the  villages  I 
passed  through — and,  to  avoid  pursuit,  had  to 
shave  off  my  beard  and  disguise  myself  in  this 
Confederate  uniform,  which  I  was  lucky  enough 
to  'appropriate.'  I  was  nearly  starved — stum- 
bled across  this  place  or  my  way  down — told 


Mingling  With  the  Enemy  85 

a  plausible  story  (Heaven  forgive  me  for  deceiv- 
ing so  delightful  a  lady  as  Mrs.  Page) — and 
here  I  am  !  And  the  sooner  we  set  off  from  here, 
the  sooner  we  will  meet  at  the  appointed  town." 

"  When  the  war's  over,"  remarked  Macgreggor, 
"you  can  earn  a  fortune  on  the  stage." 

Half  an  hour  later  the  four  Northerners  had 
taken  a  grateful  farewell  of  the  unsuspecting 
Mrs.  Page,  and  were  hurrying  along  the  bank  of 
the  Tennessee.  By  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon 
they  had  reached  a  point  directly  opposite  Chat- 
tanooga. Here  they  found  a  ferryman,  just  as 
they  had  been  given  to  expect,  with  his  flat 
"  horse-boat "  moored  to  the  shore.  He  was  a 
fat,  comfortable-looking  fellow,  as  he  sat  in  tailor- 
fashion  on  the  little  wharf,  smoking  a  corncob 
pipe  as  unconcernedly  as  though  he  had  nothing 
to  do  all  day  but  enjoy  tobacco. 

Watson  approached  the  man.  "  We  want  to 
get  across  the  river  as  soon  as  possible,"  he  ex- 
plained, pointing  to  his  companions.  "This 
officer  (indicating  Walter  Jenks,  who  retained 
his  Confederate  uniform)  and  the  rest  of  us  must 
be  in 'Chattanooga  within  half  an  hour." 

The  ferryman  took  his  pipe  from  his  mouth 


86  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

and  regarded  the  party  quizzically.  "  You  may 
want  to  be  in  Chattanooga  in  half  an  hour,"  he 
said,  in  a  drawling,  lazy  fashion,  "  but  I  reckon 
the  river's  got  somethin'  to  say  as  to  that !  "  He 
waved  one  hand  slowly  in  the  direction  of  the 
stream,  which  was,  without  a  shadow  of  doubt, 
an  angry  picture  to  gaze  upon.  Its  waters  were 
turbulent  enough  to  suggest  that  a  passage  across 
them  at  this  moment  would  be  attended  by  great 
risk. 

But  to  the  anxious  travelers  any  risk,  however 
great,  seemed  preferable  to  waiting.  If  they 
missed  the  evening  train  from  Chattanooga  to 
Marietta  their  usefulness  was  ended.  No  bridge- 
burning  adventure  for  them ! 

"  I  tell  you  we  must  get  over  to-night,"  urged 
Jenks,  who  hoped  that  his  uniform  would  give 
him  a  certain  prestige  in  the  eyes  of  the  ferry- 
man. "I  am  Major  Lightfoot,  of  the  — th 
Virginia,  and  I'm  on  an  important  mission. 
Every  minute  is  precious  ! " 

"  That  may  be  true  enough.  Colonel,"  replied 
the  man,  ignoring  the  title  of  "major,"  and 
taking  a  whiff  from  his  pipe.  "That  may  be 
true  enough,  but  I  calculate  nature's  got  some- 


Mingling  With  the  Enemy  87 

thin'  to  say  in  this  world.  And  I  calculate  I 
ain't  a  going  to  risk  my  life,  and  the  happiness 
of  my  wife  and  five  children,  by  tryin'  to  stem 
the  Tennessee  in  this  turmoil." 

George's  heart  sank  within  him.  To  be  so 
near  the  realization  of  his  dream  of  adventure, 
and  to  be  stopped  at  the  eleventh  hour  by  this 
stupid,  cautious  boatman !  Waggie,  who  had 
been  frisking  near  him,  suddenly  became 
solemn. 

Watson  pulled  from  his  coat  a  large  pack  of 
Confederate  money.  "  There's  money  for  you," 
he  cried,  "  if  you'll  take  us  over !  " 

The  ferryman  eyed  him  in  a  sleepy  way,  and 
took  another  pull  at  that  provoking  pipe. 

"  Money ! "  he  said,  after  a  long  pause,  during 
which  the  Northerners  gazed  at  him  as  if  their 
very  lives  depended  on  his  decision.  "  Money ! 
What's  the  use  to  me  of  money,  if  we  all  get 
drowned  crossing  over  ?  " 

As  he  spoke  the  river  roared  and  rushed  down- 
wards on  its  course  with  a  heedlessness  that 
quite  justified  him  in  his  hesitation.  "Wait  till 
to-morrow  morning,  and  the  Tennessee  will  be 
quieter.     Then  I'll  help  you  out." 


88  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

"  Wait  till  doomsday,  why  don't  you  say  ?  " 
thundered  Jenks.  "We  must  take  the  risk — 
and  I  order  you  to  take  us  over,  at  once ! " 

"  You  may  be  a  very  big  man  in  the  army," 
answered  the  ferryman,  ^'  but  your  orders  don't 
go  here ! "  He  produced  a  small  tin  box  from 
the  tail  of  his  coat,  leisurely  poured  from  it  into 
his  pipe  some  strong  tobacco,  and  slowly  lighted 
the  stuff.  Then  he  arose,  walked  to  the  edge  of 
the  wharf,  and  beckoned  to  a  lad  of  nine  or  ten 
years  old  who  was  half  asleep  in  the  boat.  The 
boy  jumped  up,  leaped  upon  the  wharf,  and  ran 
off  along  the  river's  bank  in  the  opposite  direction 
from  which  the  four  strangers  had  come.  He 
had  received  a  mysterious  order  from  the  ferry- 
man. 

"What's  the  matter  now?"  asked  Macgreg- 
gor,  who  had  a  strong  desire  to  knock  down  this 
imperturbable  fellow  who  refused  to  be  im- 
pressed even  by  a  Confederate  uniform. 

"  Nothing,"  replied  the  man,  stolidly.  He  sat 
down  again,  crossed  his  legs,  and  took  a  long 
pull  at  the  pipe. 

"  For  the  last  time,"  shouted  Jenks,  shaking 
his    fist    in    the    smoker's  face,   "I   order   you 


Mingling  With  the  Enemy  89 

to  take  out  that  boat,  and  ferry  us  across  the 
river ! " 

"  For  the  last  time,"  said  the  man,  very  calmly, 
"  I  tell  you  I'm  not  going  to  risk  my  life  for  four 
fools ! " 

George  walked  up  closer  to  "Watson,  and  whis- 
pered :  "  Let's  seize  the  boat,  and  try  to  cross 
over  ourselves ! " 

Watson  beckoned  to  his  two  companions,  and 
told  them  what  the  boy  suggested. 

"  We  will  be  taking  our  lives  in  our  hands," 
said  Jenks,  "  but  anything  is  better  than  being 
delayed  here." 

"Besides,"  added  Macgreggor,  "although  the 
river  is  pretty  mischievous-looking,  I  don't 
think  it's  any  more  dangerous  than  waiting 
here." 

Jenks  took  out  his  watch,  and  looked  at  it. 
"  I'll  give  you  just  five  minutes,"  he  said,  ad- 
dressing the  ferryman,  "  and  if  by  that  time  you 
haven't  made  up  your  mind  to  take  us  over  the 
river,  we'll  take  the  law  into  our  own  hands, 
seize  your  boat,  and  try  the  journey  ourselves." 
Waggie  began  to  bark  violently,  as  if  he  sympa- 
thized with  this  speech. 


90  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

The  man  smiled.  "  That  will  be  a  fool  trick," 
he  answered.  "  If  it's  dangerous  for  me,  it'll  be 
death  for  you  uns.  Better  say  your  prayers, 
partner ! " 

"  Only  four  minutes  left ! "  cried  Jenks,  reso- 
lutely, keeping  an  eye  on  the  watch. 

The  ferryman  closed  his  eyes  and  resumed  his 
smoking.  The  others  watched  him  intently. 
Meanwhile  George  was  thinking.  Two  minutes 
more  passed.  The  boy  was  recalling  a  saying  of 
his  father's :  "  Sometimes  you  can  taunt  an  ob- 
stinate man  into  doing  things,  where  you  can't 
reason  with  him." 

"  Time  is  up ! "  said  Jenks,  at  last.  "  Come, 
boys,  let's  make  a  break  for  the  boat !  " 

The  ferryman  placed  his  pipe  on  the  ground 
with  the  greatest  composure.  "Take  the  boat 
if  you  want,"  he  observed,  rising  to  his  feet, 
"  but  you  fellows  won't  get  very  far  in  it !  Look 
there ! " 

He  pointed  up  the  river's  bank.  The  boy  who 
had  been  sent  away  a  few  minutes  before  was 
coming  back  to  the  wharf ;  he  was  now,  perhaps, 
a  quarter  of  a  mile  away,  but  he  was  not  alone. 
He  was  bringing  with  him  five  Confederate  sol- 


Mingling  With  the  Enemy  91 

diers,  who  were  walking  briskly  along  with 
muskets  at  right  shoulder. 

"  You  fellows  looked  kind  o'  troublesome,"  ex- 
plained the  ferryman,  "  so  as  there's  a  picket  up 
yonder  I  thought  I'd  send  my  son  up  for  'em !  " 

"Watson  made  a  move  towards  the  boat. 
"Better  stay  here,"  cried  the  ferryman;  "for 
before  you  can  get  a  hundred  feet  away  from 
the  bank  in  this  contrary  stream  those  soldiers 
will  pick  you  off  with  their  muskets.  D'ye  want 
to  end  up  as  food  for  fishes  ?  " 

The  men  groaned  in  spirit.  "It's  too  late," 
muttered  Jenks.  He  could  picture  the  arrival  at 
Marietta  of  all  the  members  of  the  expedition 
save  his  own  party,  and  the  triumphal  railroad 
escapade  the  next  day.  And  when  the  Northern 
newspapers  would  ring  with  the  account  of  the 
affair,  his  own  name  would  not  appear  in  the  list 
of  the  brave  adventurers. 

Suddenly  George  went  up  to  the  ferryman, 
and  said,  with  much  distinctness :  "  I  see  we 
have  to  do  with  a  coward !  There's  not  a  boat- 
man in  Kentucky  who  wouldn't  take  us  across 
this  river.  Even  a  Yankee  wouldn't  fear  it. 
But  you  are  so  afraid  you'll  have  to  get  your 


92  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

feet  wet  that  you  actually  send  for  soldiers  to 
protect  you ! " 

George's  companions  looked  at  him  in  aston- 
ishment. The  boatman,  losing  his  placidity, 
turned  a  deep  red.  "  Take  care,  young  fellow," 
he  said,  in  a  voice  of  anger  ;  "  there's  not  a  man 
in  Tennessee  who  dares  to  call  Ned  Jackson  a 
coward ! " 

"  I  dare  to  call  you  a  coward  unless  you  take 
us  over  to  Chattanooga ! "  answered  the  boy, 
sturdily.  "  You're  afraid — and  that's  the  whole 
truth ! " 

Jackson's  face  now  underwent  a  kaleidoscopic 
transformation  ranging  all  the  way  from  red  to 
purple,  and  then  to  white.  All  his  stolidity  had 
vanished ;  he  was  no  longer  the  slow  country- 
man ;  he  had  become  the  courageous,  impetuous 
Southerner. 

"If  you  weren't  a  boy,"  he  shouted,  "I'd 
knock  you  down  !  " 

"  That  wouldn't  prove  your  bravery,"  returned 
George,  regarding  him  with  an  expression  of 
well-feigned  contempt.  "  That  would  only  show 
you  to  be  a  bully.  If  you  have  any  courage  in 
your  veins — the  kind  of  courage  that  most  South- 


Mingling  With  the  Enemy  93 

erners  have — prove  it  by  taking  us  across  the 
river." 

The  soldiers  were  gradually  drawing  near  the 
wharf.  Meanwhile  George's  companions  had 
caught  his  cue.  He  was  trying  to  goad  Jackson 
into  ferrying  them  over  the  riotous  stream. 

"  Humph ! "  said  Macgreggor ;  "  a  good  boat- 
man is  never  afraid  of  the  water ;  but  our  friend 
here  seems  to  have  a  consuming  fear  of  it ! " 

"  He  ought  to  live  on  a  farm,  where  there  is 
nothing  but  a  duck  pond  in  the  shape  of  water," 
added  Jenks.  Jackson  was  actually  trembling 
with  rage ;  his  hands  were  twisting  nervously. 

"Watson  eyed  him  with  seeming  pity,  as  he 
said :  "  It's  a  lucky  thing  for  you  that  you  didn't 
enlist  in  the  Confederate  army.  You  would  have 
run  at  the  first  smell  of  gunpowder ! " 

Jackson  could  contain  his  wrath  no  longer. 
"  So  you  fellows  think  I'm  a  coward,"  he  cried. 
"  Very  well !  I'll  prove  that  I'm  not !  Get  into 
my  boat,  and  I'll  take  you  across — or  drown  you 
all  and  myself — I  don't  care  which.  But  no  man 
shall  ever  say  that  Ned  Jackson  is  a  coward ! " 
He  ran  to  the  boat,  leaped  into  it  and  beckoned 
to  the  Northerners.     "  Come  on ! "  he  shouted. 


94  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

Within  a  minute  George,  Macgreggor,  Watson 
and  Jenks  were  in  the  little  craft,  and  the  ferry- 
man had  unmoored  it  from  the  wharf. 

"Never  mind,"  he  cried,  waving  his  hand  to 
the  soldiers,  who  had  now  reached  the  wharf. 
"I  don't  want  you.  I'm  going  to  ferry  'em  over 
the  river — or  go  to  the  bottom  !     It's  all  right." 

Already  were  the  voyagers  in  midstream,  al- 
most before  they  knew  it.  It  looked  as  if  Jack- 
son, in  his  attempt  to  prove  his  courage,  might 
only  end  by  sending  them  all  to  the  bottom. 
Waggie,  who  was  now  reposing  in  a  pocket  of 
George's  coat,  suddenly  gave  a  low  growl. 
George  produced  from  another  pocket  a  bone 
which  he  had  brought  from  Mrs.  Page's  house, 
and  gave  it  to  the  dog. 

"Well,"  laughed  Watson,  in  unconcern,  "if 
Wag's  to  be  drowned,  he'll  be  drowned  on  a  full 
stomach — and  that's  one  consolation." 

"  He's  the  only  critter  among  you  as  has  got 
any  sense,"  snarled  the  ferryman  ;  "  for  he's  the 
only  one  who  didn't  ask  to  be  taken  across  this 
infarnal  river ! " 


CHAPTER  IV 

PLOT   AND   PLOTTERS 

In  after  years  George  could  never  quite  under- 
stand how  he  and  his  companions  reached  the 
Chattanooga  shore.  He  retained  a  vivid  recol- 
lection of  tempestuous  waves,  of  a  boat  buffeted 
here  and  there,  and  of  Ned  Jackson  muttering  all 
manner  of  unkind  things  at  his  passengers  and 
the  turbulent  stream.  They  did  at  last  reach 
their  destination,  and  bade  farewell  to  the  ferry- 
man, whom  they  loaded  down  with  Confederate 
notes. 

No  sooner  was  the  latter  embarked  on  the  re- 
turn voyage  than  "Watson  said :  "  That  was  a 
clever  ruse  of  yours,  George.  That  Jackson  was 
a  brave  man  at  heart,  and  you  put  him  on  his 
mettle.  He  wanted  to  show  us  that  he  wasn't 
afraid  of  the  water — and  he  succeeded." 

George  laughed.  He  explained  that  it  was  a 
remark  of  his  father's  which  had  put  the  idea  into 
his  own  head,  and  then  he  wondered  where  that 

85 


96  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

same  father  could  be.  Was  he  dead  or  was  he 
still  living,  perhaps  in  some  prison  ? 

It  was  not  long  before  the  party  reached  the 
railroad  station  at  Chattanooga.  Here  they  pur- 
chased their  tickets  for  Marietta,  and  were  soon 
in  the  train  bound  southward  for  the  latter  place. 
The  sun  had  nearly  set  as  the  engine  pulled  slowly 
out  of  the  depot.  The  car  in  which  they  sat  was 
filled  with  men  on  their  way  down  South,  some 
of  them  being  soldiers  in  uniform  and  the  rest 
civilians.  Macgreggor,  "Watson  and  Jenks  were 
at  the  rear  end  of  the  car,  while  George  had  to 
find  a  seat  at  the  other  end,  next  to  a  very  thin 
man  who  wore  the  uniform  of  a  Confederate 
captain. 

"  Isn't  it  strange  ?  "  thought  the  boy.  "  To-mor- 
row morning  we  will  be  reversing  our  journey  on 
this  railroad,  and  burning  bridges  on  our  way 
back  to  Chattanooga.  But  how  are  we  to  steal  a 
train  ?  I  wonder  if  Andrews  and  the  rest  of  the 
party  will  be  on  hand  to-night  at  Marietta." 
Then,  as  he  realized  that  he  was  in  a  car  filled 
with  men  who  would  treat  him  as  a  spy,  if  they 
knew  the  nature  of  his  errand  to  the  South,  there 
came  over  him  a  great  wave  of  homesickness- 


Plot  and  Plotters  97 

He  had  lived  all  his  life  among  friends ;  it  was 
for  him  a  new  sensation  to  feel  that  he  was  se- 
cretly opposed  to  his  fellow-trav^elers. 

The  thin  Captain  who  sat  next  to  him  turned 
and  curiously  regarded  Waggie,  who  was  lying 
on  his  master's  lap.  He  had  shrewd  gray  eyes, 
had  this  Captain,  and  there  was  a  week's  growth 
of  beard  upon  his  weazened  face. 

"  "Where  did  you  get  your  dog  from,  lad  ?  "  he 
asked,  giving  AVaggie  a  pat  with  one  of  his  skele- 
ton-like hands.  It  was  a  pat  to  which  the  little 
animal  paid  no  attention. 

"  From  home — Cincinnati." 

George  had  answered  on  the  spur  of  the  mo- 
ment, thouglitlessly,  carelessly,  before  he  had  a 
chance  to  detect  what  a  blunder  he  was  making. 
The  next  second  he  could  have  bitten  out  his 
tongue  in  very  vexation;  he  felt  that  his  face 
was  burning  a  bright  red  ;  he  had  a  choking  sen- 
sation at  the  throat. 

The  emaciated  Captain  was  staring  at  him  in  a 
curiously  surprised  fashion.  "  From  Cincinnati  ? 
Cincinnati,  Ohio?"  he  asked,  fixing  his  lynx- 
like eyes  attentively  upon  his  companion. 

Poor  George  !     Every  idea  seemed  to  have  left 


98  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

him  in  his  sudden  confusion ;  he  was  only  con- 
scious that  the  Confederate  officer  continued  to 
regard  him  in  the  same  intent  manner.  "  I  say,J^ 
repeated  the  latter,  "  is  your  home  in  Ohio  ?  " 

"  Yes,  Cincinnati,  Ohio,"  said  the  boy  boldly. 
"  After  all,"  as  he  thought,  "  I  had  better  put  a 
frank  face  on  this  stupidity  of  mine ;  a  stammer- 
ing answer  will  only  make  this  fellow  the  more 
suspicious." 

"  So  then  you're  a  Northerner,  are  you,  my 
son  ?  "  observed  the  Captain.  "  I  thought  you 
spoke  with  a  bit  of  a  Yankee  accent ! " 

"  Yes,  I'm  a  Northerner,"  answered  George. 
As  he  felt  himself  plunging  deeper  and  deeper 
into  hot  Avater  he  was  trying  to  devise  some 
plausible  story  to  tell  the  officer.  But  how  to 
invent  one  while  he  was  being  subjected  to  that 
close  scrutiny.  One  thing,  at  least,  was  certain. 
Once  he  had  admitted  that  his  home  was  in  Ohio 
he  could  not  make  any  use  of  the  oft  repeated 
Kentucky  yarn. 

"  And  what  are  you  doing  down  here  ?  "  asked 
the  Captain.  He  spoke  very  quietly,  but  there 
was  an  inflection  in  his  voice  which  seemed  to 
say :     "  Give  a  good  account  of  yourself — for 


Plot  and  Plotters  99 

your  presence  in  this  part  of  the  country  is  curi- 
ous, if  nothing  more." 

Greorge  understood  that  he  must  think  quickly, 
and  decide  on  some  plan  of  action  to  cover  up,  if 
he  could,  any  bad  results  from  his  blunder.  He 
was  once  more  cool,  and  he  returned  the  piercing 
look  of  the  officer  with  steadfast  eyes.  His  mind 
was  clear  as  to  one  thing.  There  was  no  need  of 
his  trying  to  invent  a  story,  on  the  spur  of  the 
moment,  with  a  man  like  the  Captain  quite  ready 
to  pick  it  to  pieces.  For  it  was  plain  that  this 
Confederate  was  shrewd — and  a  trifle  suspicious. 
The  boy  must  pursue  a  different  course. 

"  My  being  down  South  is  my  own  concern,'' 
he  said,  pretending  to  be  virtuously  offended  at 
the  curiosity  of  his  inquisitor. 

The  Captain  drew  himself  up  with  an  injured 
air.  "  Heigh  ho ! "  he  muttered ;  "  my  young  in- 
fant wants  me  to  mind  my  own  business,  eh  ?  " 

George  flushed ;  he  considered  himself  very 
much  of  a  man,  and  he  did  not  relish  being  called 
an  "infant."  But  he  kept  his  temper;  he  fore- 
saw that  everything  depended  upon  his  remain- 
ing cool.  He  treated  the  remark  with  contemp- 
tuous silence. 


100  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

The  officer  turned  away  from  him,  to  look  out 
of  the  window  of  the  car.  Yet  it  was  evident 
that  he  paid  little  or  no  attention  to  the  rapidly- 
moving  landscape.  He  was  thinking  hard.  Not 
a  word  was  spoken  between  the  two  for  ten 
minutes.  Most  of  the  other  passengers  were 
talking  excitedly  among  themselves.  Occasion- 
ally a  remark  could  be  understood  above  the  rat- 
tle of  the  train.  George  heard  enough  to  know 
they  were  discussing  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  which 
had  been  fought  so  recently. 

"  I  tell  you,"  cried  a  soldier,  "  the  battle  was  a 
great  Confederate  victory." 

"  That  may  be,"  answered  some  one,  "  but  if 
we  have  many  more  such  victories  we  Southern- 
ers will  have  a  lost  cause  on  our  hands,  and  Abe 
Lincoln  will  be  eating  his  supper  in  Richmond 
before  many  months  are  gone." 

At  this  there  was  a  chorus  of  angry  dissent, 
and  several  cries  of  "  Traitor  !  "  George  listened 
eagerly.  He  would  dearly  have  liked  to  look  be- 
hind him,  to  see  what  his  three  companions  were 
doing,  or  hear  what  they  were  saying,  at  the 
other  end  of  the  car.  But  he  was  not  supposed 
to  know  them.    He  could  only  surmise  (correctly 


Plot  and  Plotters  lOl 

enough,  as  it  happened)  that  they  were  acting 
their  part  of  Southerners,  although  doing  as  lit- 
tle as  possible  to  attract  attention.  One  thing 
worried  the  young  adventurer.  He  distrusted  the 
continued  silence  of  the  Captain. 

It  was  a  silence  that  the  officer  finally  broke, 
by  looking  squarely  into  George's  face,  and  say- 
ing, in  a  low  tone :  "  When  a  IS'ortherner  travels 
down  South  these  times  he  must  give  an  account 
of  himself.  If  you  won't  tell  me  who  you  are, 
my  friend,  I  may  find  means  of  making  you ! " 

As  he  spoke  the  train  was  slowing  up,  and  in 
another  minute  it  had  stopped  at  a  little  station. 

"  Now  or  never,"  thought  George.  He  arose, 
stuffed  Waggie  into  his  pocket,  and  said  to  the 
Captain:  "If  you  want  to  find  out  about  me, 
write  me.     This  is  my  station.     Good-bye ! " 

The  next  instant  he  had  stepped  out  of  the 
car,  and  was  on  the  platform.  He  and  an  elderh'- 
lady  were  the  only  two  passengers  who  alighted. 
No  sooner  had  they  touched  the  platform  than 
the  train  moved  on  its  way,  leaving  the  Captain 
in  a  state  of  angry  surprise,  as  he  wondered 
whether  he  should  not  have  made  some  effort  to 
detain  the  boy.     It  was  too  late  to  do  anything 


102  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

now,  and  the  officer,  as  he  is  carried  away  on  the 
train,  is  likewise  carried  out  of  our  story. 

"What  were  the  feelings  of  "Watson,  and  Jenks, 
and  Macgreggor  as  they  saw  George  leave  the 
car,  and  the  train  rattled  away  ?  They  were 
afraid  to  make  any  sign ;  and  even  if  they  had 
thought  it  prudent  to  call  out  to  the  lad,  or  seek 
to  detain  him,  they  would  not  have  found  time 
to  put  their  purpose  into  execution,  so  quickly 
had  the  whole  thing  happened.  Not  daring  to 
utter  a  sound,  they  could  only  look  at  one  an- 
other in  blank  amazement.  "  "What  was  the  boy 
up  to,"  thought  "Watson,  "  and  what's  to  become 
of  him  ?  "  He  was  already  devotedly  attached 
to  George,  so  that  he  felt  sick  at  heart  when  he 
pictured  him  alone  and  unprotected  at  a  little 
wayside  village  in  the  heart  of  an  enemy's  coun- 
try. Nor  were  the  other  two  men  less  solicitous. 
Had  George  suddenly  put  on  wings,  and  flown 
up  through  the  roof  of  the  car,  they  could  not 
have  been  more  horrified  than  they  were  at  this 
moment.  Meanwhile  the  train  went  rumbling 
on,  as  it  got  farther  and  farther  away  from  the 
little  station.  It  was  now  almost  dark ;  the 
brakeman  came  into  the  car  and  lighted  two 


Plot  and  Plotters  103 

sickly  lamps.  Some  of  the  passengers  leaned 
back  in  their  seats  and  prepared  to  doze,  while 
others,  in  heated,  angry  tones,  kept  up  the  dis- 
cussion as  to  the  battle  of  Shiloh.  The  civilian 
who  had  hinted  that  the  engagement  was  not  a 
signal  victory  for  the  Confederates  got  up  and 
walked  into  a  forward  car,  to  rid  himself  of  the 
abuse  and  arguments  of  several  of  his  com- 
panions. 

Watson  was  sorely  tempted  to  pull  the  check 
rope  of  the  train,  jump  out,  and  walk  back  on 
the  track  until  he  found  the  missing  boy ;  but 
when  he  reflected  on  the  possible  consequences 
of  such  a  proceeding  he  unwillingly  admitted  to 
himself  that  to  attempt  it  would  be  the  part  of 
madness.  He  would  only  bring  the  notice  of 
every  one  in  the  train  upon  himself;  suspicion 
would  be  aroused  ;  he  and  his  companions  might 
be  arrested;  the  whole  plot  for  burning  the 
bridges  might  be  upset. 

"  What  can  have  gotten  into  George's  head  ?  " 
he  said  to  himself  a  hundred  times.  Jenks  and 
Macgreggor  were  asking  themselves  the  same 
question.  Steadily  the  train  went  on,  while  the 
sky  grew  darker  and  darker.     In  time  most  of  the 


104  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

passengers  fell  asleep.  Occasionally  a  stop  would 
be  made  at  some  station.  Marietta,  in  Georgia, 
would  not  be  reached  until  nearly  midnight. 

^  •?&  "W  w  W  ^ 

"  Where  had  George  gone  ?  "  the  reader  will 
ask.  The  question  is  not  so  hard  to  answer  as  it 
may  seem.  The  moment  that  the  Captain  had 
become  inquisitive  the  boy  had  made  up  his  mind 
that  the  sooner  he  could  get  away  from  that 
gentleman  the  better  it  would  be  for  the  success 
of  Andrews'  expedition.  He  saw  that  the  train 
stopped  at  different  stations  along  the  road,  and 
he  began  to  map  out  a  scheme  for  escape.  Thus, 
when  the  cars  came  to  the  place  already  spoken 
of,  he  jumped  out,  as  we  have  described,  and 
stood  on  the  platform  with  the  elderly  lady  who 
had  alighted  almost  at  the  same  instant.  The 
latter  passed  on  into  the  station,  and  left  the 
platform  deserted,  except  for  George.  Hardly 
had  she  disappeared  before  the  conductor  pulled 
the  check-rope,  and  the  train  began  to  move. 
As  it  slowly  passed  by  him  the  boy  quickly 
jumped  upon  the  track,  caught  hold  of  the  coup- 
ling of  the  last  car,  and  hung  there,  with  his 
knees  lifted  up  almost  to  his  chin.     In  another 


Plot  and  Plotters  105 

second  he  had  grasped  the  iron  railing  above 
him  ;  within  a  minute  he  had  raised  himself  and 
clambered  upon  the  platform.  The  train  was 
now  speeding  along  at  the  customary  rate.  As 
George  sat  down  on  the  platform,  he  gave  a  sigh 
of  relief.  No  one  had  seen  him  board  the  car. 
For  all  that  the  inquisitive  Captain  knew  he 
might  still  be  standing  in  front  of  the  station. 
And  what  were  Watson,  Jenks  and  Macgreggor 
thinking  about  his  sudden  exit  from  the  scene  ? 
George  laughed,  in  spite  of  himself,  as  he  pic- 
tured their  amazement.  He  would  give  them  a 
pleasant  surprise  later  on,  when  they  reached 
Marietta.  In  the  meantime  he  would  stay  just 
where  he  was,  if  he  were  not  disturbed,  until 
they  arrived  at  that  town.  Then  it  would  be 
late  at  night,  when  he  could  evade  the  lynx-eyed 
Confederate  oflScer. 

Having  settled  his  plans  comfortably  in  his 
mind  George  was  about  to  put  his  hand  in  his 
coat  pocket  to  give  a  reassuring  pat  to  Waggie 
(who  had  been  sadly  shaken  up  by  his  master's 
scramble)  when  the  door  of  the  car  opened.  A 
man  put  out  his  head,  and  stared  at  the  boy. 

"  What  are  you  doing  here,  youngster  ?  "  asked 


io6  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

the  man.  George  recognized  him  as  the  con- 
ductor of  the  train. 

"  Only  trying  to  get  a  breath  of  fresh  air,"  re- 
plied the  lad,  at  the  same  time  producing  his 
railroad  ticket  and  showing  it  in  the  dusk.  The 
conductor  flashed  the  lantern  he  was  holding  in 
George's  face,  and  then  glanced  at  the  ticket. 

"  Well,  don't  fall  off,"  he  observed,  evidently 
satisfied  by  the  scrutiny.  "  You  were  in  one  of 
the  forward  cars,  weren't  you  ?  "Where's  your 
dog  ?  In  your  pocket,  eh  ?  "  He  turned  around, 
shut  the  door,  and  went  back  into  the  car  with- 
out waiting  for  an  answer. 

"One  danger  is  over,"  whispered  George  to 
himself.  Then  he  began  to  pat  Waggie.  "  You 
and  I  are  having  an  exciting  time  of  it,  aren't 
we  ?  "  he  laughed.  "  Well,  there's  one  consola- 
tion; they  can't  hang  you  for  a  spy,  anyway, 
even  if  they  should  hang  me ! " 

So  the  night  passed  on,  as  George  clung  to  the 
railing  of  the  platform,  while  the  train  rumbled 
along  in  the  darkness  to  the  Southward.  The 
conductor  did  not  appear  again;  he  had  evi- 
dently forgotten  all  about  the  boy.  At  last, 
when  Waggie  and  his  master  were  both  feeling 


Plot  and  Plotters  107 

cold,  and  hungry,  and  forlorn,  there  came  a  wel- 
come cry  from  the  brakeman  :  "  Marietta !  All 
out  for  Marietta !  " 

In  a  short  time  the  passengers  for  Marietta 
had  left  the  train.  Watson,  Jenks  and  Macgreg- 
gor  were  soon  in  a  little  hotel  near  the  station, 
which  was  to  be  the  rendezvous  for  Andrews  and 
his  party.  As  they  entered  the  office  of  the 
hostelry  all  their  enthusiasm  for  the  coming  esca- 
pade seemed  to  have  vanished.  The  mysterious 
disappearance  of  George  had  dampened  their 
ardor ;  they  feared  to  think  where  he  could  be, 
or  what  might  have  become  of  him. 

The  office  was  brilliantly  lighted  in  spite  of  the 
lateness  of  the  hour.  In  it  were  lounging  eight 
or  nine  men.  The  pulses  of  the  three  new- 
comers beat  the  quicker  as  they  recognized  in 
them  members  of  the  proposed  bridge-burning 
expedition.     Among  them  was  Andrews. 

"  Yes,"  he  was  saying,  in  a  perfectly  natural 
manner,  to  the  hotel  clerk,  who  stood  behind  a 
desk  ;  "  we  Kentuckians  must  push  on  early  to- 
morrow morning.  The  South  has  need  of  all  the 
men  she  can  muster." 

"  That's  true,"  answered  the  clerk ;  "  Abe  Lin- 


io8  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

coin  and  Jefferson  Davis  have  both  found  out  by 
this  time  that  this  war  won't  be  any  child's  play. 
It'll  last  a  couple  of  years  yet,  or  my  name's  not 
Dan  Sanderson." 

Macgreggor  and  Jenks  walked  up  to  the  regis- 
ter on  the  desk,  without  showing  any  sign  of 
recognition,  and  put  down  their  names  respect- 
ively as  "  Henry  Fielding,  Memphis,  Tennessee," 
and  "  Major  Thomas  Brown,  Chattanooga."  The 
latter,  it  will  be  remembered,  wore  a  Confederate 
uniform.  Watson  wrote  his  real  name,  in  a  bold, 
round  hand,  and  added :  "  Fleming  County, 
Kentucky."  Then  he  turned  towards  Andrews. 
"  Well,  stranger,"  he  said,  "  did  I  hear  you  say 
you  were  from  Kentucky?  I'm  a  Kentuckian 
myself.     What's  your  county  ?  " 

He  extended  his  right  hand  and  greeted  An- 
drews with  the  air  of  a  man  who  would  like  to 
cultivate  a  new  acquaintance.  Andrews  rose,  of 
course,  to  the  occasion,  by  answering :  "  I'm 
always  glad  to  meet  a  man  from  my  own  state. 
I'm  from  Fleming  County." 

"  Well,  I'll  be  struck  1 "  cried  Watson .  «  That's 
my  county,  too !  What  part  of  it  do  you  live 
in?" 


Plot  and  Plotters  109 

After  a  little  more  of  this  conversation,  which 
was  given  in  loud  tones,  the  two  men  withdrew 
to  a  corner  and  sat  down.  "We  are  all  here 
now  except  two  of  our  men,"  said  Andrews,  in  a 
low  voice.  "  Half  of  the  fellows  have  gone  to 
bed,  thoroughly  tired  out.  But  where's  George  ? 
Isn't  he  with  you  ?  " 

"  It  makes  me  sick  to  think  where  he  is,"  whis- 
pered "Watson,  "  for " 

Before  he  could  finish  his  sentence  George  en- 
tered the  office,  followed  by  Waggie.  He  had 
lingered  about  the  Marietta  Station,  after  leav- 
ing the  platform  of  the  car,  until  he  was  safe 
from  meeting  the  Captain,  in  case  that  gentle- 
man should  have  alighted  at  this  place.  Then  he 
had  cautiously  made  his  way  to  the  hotel. 

Watson  rose  as  quietly  as  if  the  appearance  of 
George  was  just  what  he  had  been  expecting, 
"What  did  you  lag  behind  at  the  station  for, 
George  ?  "  he  asked.  Then,  turning  to  Andrews, 
he  said  :  "  Here's  another  Kentuckian,  sir — a 
nephew  of  mine.  He  wants  to  join  the  Con- 
federate army,  too." 

George,  as  he  shook  hands  with  Andrews  quite 
as  if  they  had  never  met  each  other  before,  could 


no  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

not  help  admiring  the  presence  of  mind  of 
Watson. 

"You  young  rascal,"  whispered  the  latter, 
"you  have  given  me  some  miserable  min- 
utes." 

"Hush!"  commanded  Andrews,  in  the  same 
tone  of  voice.  "  We  must  not  talk  together  any 
more.  As  soon  as  you  go  up-stairs  to  bed  you 
must  come  to  my  room — number  10,  on  the  sec- 
ond floor,  and  get  your  instructions  for  to-mor- 
row. Everything  has  gone  very  smoothly  so 
far,  and  we  are  all  here  excepting  two  of  us,  al- 
though some  of  us  have  had  a  pretty  ticklish  time 
in  getting  through  to  this  town.  Kemember — 
Koom  Number  10." 

Andrews  moved  away.  Soon  all  the  members 
of  the  party  assembled  at  the  hotel  were  in  their 
rooms  up-stairs,  presumably  asleep,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  George  and  his  three  companions. 
They  were  able,  after  considerable  coaxing,  to  get 
admittance  into  the  dining-room.  Thereby  they 
secured  a  nocturnal  meal  of  tough  ham,  better 
eggs,  and  some  muddy  "  coffee."  The  latter  was 
in  reality  a  concoction  consisting  of  about  seven- 
eights   of  chickory,  and  the  other  eighth, — but 


Plot  and  Plotters  ill 

what  the  remaining  eighth  was  only  the  cook 
could  have  told.  The  meal  tasted  like  a  Del- 
monico  feast  to  the  famished  wanderers,  nor  was 
it  the  less  acceptable  because  they  saw  it  nearly 
consumed  before  their  hungry  eyes ;  for  Waggie, 
who  had  a  power  of  observation  that  would  have 
done  credit  to  a  detective,  and  a  scent  of  which  a 
hound  might  well  have  been  proud,  made  his  way 
into  the  dining-room  in  advance  of  the  party,  and 
jumped  upon  the  table  while  the  negro  waiter's 
back  was  turned.  As  George  entered,  the  dog 
w^as  about  to  pounce  upon  the  large  plate  of  ham. 
Mr.  Wag  cast  one  sheepish  look  upon  his  master, 
and  then  retired  under  the  table,  where  he  had 
his  supper  later  on. 

After  they  had  finished  their  meal,  the  four 
conspirators  were  taken  up-stairs  by  a  sleepy  bell- 
boy, and  shown  into  a  large  room  containing  two 
double  beds.  The  servant  lighted  a  kerosene 
lamp  that  stood  on  a  centre  table,  and  then  shuf- 
fled down  to  the  office. 

Macgreggor  lifted  the  lamp  to  take  a  survey 
of  the  room.  "  Take  a  good  look  at  those  beds, 
fellows,"  he  said,  with  a  grim  chuckle ;  "  it  may 
be  a  long  time  before  you  sleep  on  such  comfort- 


112  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

able  ones  again.  For  if  we  come  to  grief  in  this 
expedition " 

"  Pshaw ! "  interrupted  Jenks  impatiently,  but 
in  subdued  tones.  "Don't  borrow  trouble.  We 
are  bound  to  succeed." 

Macgreggor  placed  the  lamp  on  the  centre  ta- 
ble, and  began  to  take  off  his  shoes.  "  I'm  just  as 
ready  as  any  of  you  for  this  scheme,"  he  answered, 
"  but  I  can't  shut  my  eyes  to  the  risks  we  are 
running.  Did  you  notice  on  your  way  down  that 
the  railroad  sidings  between  Chattanooga  and 
Marietta  were  filled  with  freight  cars?  That 
means,  to  begin  with,  that  we  won't  have  a  clear 
track  for  our  operations  to  the  Northward." 

Watson  smiled  rather  grimly.  "  The  more  we 
appreciate  the  breakers  ahead  of  us,"  he  whis- 
pered, "  the  less  likely  are  we  to  get  stranded  on 
the  beach.  But  we  really  can't  judge  anything 
about  the  outlook  for  to-morrow  until  we  get  our 
detailed  instructions  from  Andrews." 

As  he  spoke  there  was  a  very  faint  tap  at  the 
door.  The  next  moment  Andrews  had  cautiously 
entered  the  room.  He  was  in  stocking  feet,  and 
wore  neither  coat  nor  waistcoat. 

"  I  thought  it  better  to  hunt  you  fellows  up," 


Plot  and  Plotters  113 

he  explained,  in  a  voice  that  they  could  just  hear, 
"  instead  of  letting  you  try  to  find  me.  I  was 
listening  when  the  boy  showed  you  up  to  this 
room."  He  proceeded  to  sit  upon  one  of  the  beds, 
while  his  companions  gathered  silently  around 
him.  "  Listen,"  he  continued,  "  and  get  your  in- 
structions for  to-morrow — for  after  we  separate 
to-night  there  will  be  no  time  for  plotting. 

"  To-morrow  we  must  reverse  our  journey  and 
take  the  early  morning  train  to  the  northward, 
on  this  Georgia  State  Railroad.  In  order  to 
avoid  suspicion,  we  must  not  all  buy  tickets  for 
the  same  station.  In  point  of  fact  we  are  only 
to  go  as  far  as  Big  Shanty  station,  near  the  foot 
of  Kenesaw  Mountain,  a  distance  of  eight  miles. 
Here  passengers  and  railroad  employees  get  off 
for  breakfast,  and  this  is  why  I  have  selected  the 
place  for  the  seizure  of  the  train.  Furthermore, 
there  is  no  telegraph  station  there  from  which 
our  robbery  could  be  reported.  When  we  board 
the  train  at  Marietta  we  must  get  in  by  different 
doors,  but  contrive  to  come  together  in  one  car 
— the  passenger  car  nearest  the  engine.  After 
all,  or  nearly  all  but  ourselves  have  left  the  cars 
at  Big  Shanty  for  breakfast,  I  will  give  the  sig- 


1 14  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

nal,  when  the  coast  is  clear,  and  we  will  begin 
the  great  work  of  the  day — that  of  stealing  the 
locomotive." 

Here  Andrews  went  into  a  detailed  descrip- 
tion of  what  each  man  in  the  expedition  (he  had 
now  twenty-one  men,  including  himself,  and  not 
counting  George)  would  do  when  the  fateful  mo- 
ment arrived.  George,  who  sat  listening  with 
open  mouth,  felt  as  if  he  were  drinking  in  a  ro- 
mantic tale  from  the  "  Arabian  Nights,"  or,  at 
least,  from  a  modern  version  of  the  "  Nights," 
where  Federal  soldiers  and  steam  engines  would 
not  be  out  of  place.  He  thrilled  with  admira- 
tion at  the  nicety  with  which  Andrews  had 
made  all  his  arrangements.  It  was  like  a  gen- 
eral entering  into  elaborate  preparations  for  a 
battle.  The  two  soldiers  who  were  to  act  as 
engineers,  those  who  were  to  play  brakemen,  and 
the  man  who  was  to  be  fireman,  had  their  work 
carefully  mapped  out  for  them.  The  other  men 
were  to  form  a  guard  who  would  stand  near  the 
cars  that  were  to  be  seized ;  they  were  to  have 
their  revolvers  ready  and  must  shoot  down  any 
one  who  attempted  to  interfere. 

"  We  must  get  off  as  quickly  as  possible,"  went 


Plot  and  Plotters  115 

on  the  intrepid  Andrews.  "  From  what  I  hear 
to-night  it  is  evident  that  General  Mitchell  cap- 
tured Huntsville  to-day,  which  is  one  day  sooner 
than  we  expected  him  to  do  it.  We  must  cut  all 
telegraph  wires  and  then  run  the  train  north- 
ward to  Chattanooga,  and  from  there  westward 
until  we  meet  Mitchell  advancing  towards  Chat- 
tanooga on  his  way  from  Huntsville.  I  have 
obtained  a  copy  of  the  time-table  showing  the 
movement  of  trains  on  the  Georgia  State  Rail, 
road,  and  I  find  we  have  only  two  to  meet  on 
our  race.  These  two  won't  trouble  us,  for  I 
know  just  where  to  look  for  them.  There  is 
also  a  local  freight- train  which  can  be  passed  if 
we  are  careful  to  run  according  to  the  schedule 
of  the  captured  train  until  we  come  up  to  it. 
Having  gotten  by  this  local  freight  we  can  put 
on  full  steam,  and  speed  on  to  the  Oostenaula 
and  Chickamauga  bridges,  burn  them,  and  run 
on  through  Chattanooga  to  Mitchell.  There's  a 
glorious  plan  for  you  fellows.  What  do  you 
think  of  it  ?  " 

There  was  a  ring  of  pride  in  his  lowered  voice 
as  he  concluded. 

"  Admirable ! "  whispered  Walter  Jenks.    "  It's 


ii6  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

a  sure  thing,  and  the  man  who  invented  the 
scheme  has  more  brains  than  half  the  generals  in 
the  war ! " 

As  George  pictured  to  himself  the  stolen  train 
flying  along  the  tracks,  in  the  very  heart  of  the 
enemy's  countrj',  he  could  hardly  restrain  his  en- 
thusiasm. "  It's  grand  !  "  he  murmured.  Had 
he  dared  he  would  have  given  a  great 
cheer. 

The  leader  smiled  as  he  saw,  in  the  dim  lamp- 
light, the  radiant  face  of  the  boy.  "  You  have 
lots  of  grit,  my  lad,"  he  said,  in  a  kindly  fashion, 
"  and  God  grant  you  may  come  out  of  this  busi- 
ness in  safety."  Then,  turning  to  Watson,  he 
asked  :  "  How  does  my  plan,  as  now  arranged, 
impress  you,  Watson  ?  " 

After  a  minute's  silence,  during  which  the 
others  in  the  room  gazed  intently  at  Watson, 
that  soldier  said :  "I  have  as  great  an  admira- 
tion for  James  Andrews  as  any  one  of  our  party, 
and  I  am  ready  to  follow  wherever  he  leads. 
Whatever  my  faults  may  be,  I'm  not  a  coward. 
But  we  should  look  carefully  on  each  side  of  a 
question — and  I  can't  help  thinking  that  owing 
to  circumst?m<?e8  which  we  have  not  taken  into 


Plot  and  Plotters  117 

account  our  expedition  stands  a  very  decided 
chance  of  failure." 

"  What  are  those  circumstances  ?  "  asked  An- 
drews. 

"In  the  first  place,"  was  the  reply,  "I  find 
that  there  is  a  large  encampment  of  Confederate 
troops  at  Big  Shanty.  Escape  in  a  captured 
train  would  have  been  very  easy  while  those 
soldiers  were  elsewhere ;  but,  being  there,  do 
you  suppose  that  the  sentries  of  the  camp  will 
stand  idly  by  when  we  seize  cars  and  locomotive 
and  attempt  to  steam  away  to  the  northward? 
In  the  second  place — and  this  is  no  less  impor- 
tant— the  railroad  seems  to  be  obstructed  by 
numerous  freight  trains,  probably  not  on  the 
schedule,  and  flying  along  the  track  towards 
Chattanooga  will  not  be  as  plain  sailing  as  you 
believe.  One  unlooked-for  delay  might  be  fatal. 
We  are  in  the  midst  of  enemies,  and  should  there 
be  one  hitch,  one  change  in  our  program,  the  re- 
sult will  be  failure,  and  perhaps  death,  for  all 
of  us." 

There  was  a  painful  silence.  At  last  Andrews 
said,  very  quietly,  but  with  an  air  of  strong  con- 
viction :  "  I  think  the  very  objections  you  urge. 


1 1 8  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

my  dear  "Watson,  are  advantages  in  disguise,  I 
know,  as  well  as  you,  that  there's  a  big  encamp- 
ment at  Big  Shanty,  but  what  of  it  ?  No  one 
dreams  for  one  second  that  there  is  any  plot  to 
capture  a  train,  and  no  one,  therefore,  will  be  on 
the  lookout.  The  thing  will  be  done  so  suddenly 
that  there  will  be  no  chance  for  an  alarm  until 
we  are  steaming  off  from  the  station — and  then 
we  can  laugh.  If  we  strike  any  unscheduled 
trains,  they  too  will  be  to  our  advantage;  for 
they  will  make  such  confusion  on  the  road  that 
they  will  detract  attention  from  the  rather  sus- 
picious appearance  of  our  own  train." 

"Perhaps  you  are  right,"  answered  Watson, 
rather  dubiously. 

Andrews  arose  from  the  bed,  and  solemnly 
shook  hands  with  each  of  his  four  companions. 
Then  he  said,  very  impressively :  "  I  am  confi- 
dent of  the  success  of  our  enterprise,  and  I  will 
either  go  through  with  it  or  leave  my  bones  to 
bleach  in  'Dixieland.'  But  I  don't  want  to 
persuade  any  one  against  his  own  judgment.  If 
any  one  of  you  thinks  the  scheme  too  dangerous 
— ^if  you  are  convinced  beforehand  of  its  failure 
— you  are  at  perfect  liberty  to  take  the  train  in 


Plot  and  Plotters  119 

any  direction,  and  work  your  way  home  to  the 
Union  camp  as  best  you  can.  Nor  shall  I  have 
one  word  of  reproach,  either  in  my  mind  or  on 
my  lips,  for  a  man  whose  prudence,  or  whose 
want  of  confidence  in  his  leader,  induces  him  to 
draw  back." 

Andrews  was  an  adroit  student  of  men.  No 
speech  could  have  better  served  his  purpose  of 
inducing  his  followers  to  remain  with  him.  It  was 
as  if  he  declared :  "  You  may  all  desert  me,  but 
/  will  remain  true  to  my  flag." 

"  You  can  count  on  me  to  the  very  last,"  said 
Watson  stoutly.  He  was  always  ready  to  face 
danger,  but  he  liked  to  have  the  privilege  of 
grumbling  at  times.  In  his  heart,  too,  was  a  con- 
viction that  his  leader  was  about  to  play  a  very 
desperate  game.  The  chances  were  all  against 
them. 

"Thank  jou,  Watson,"  answered  Andrews, 
gratefully.  "  I  never  could  doubt  your  bravery. 
And  are  the  rest  of  you  willing  ?  " 

There  were  hearty  murmurs  of  assent  from 
Jenks,  George  and  Macgreggor.  Jenks  and  the 
boy  were  very  sanguine ;  Macgreggor  was 
rather    skeptical  as  to  future  success,   but  he 


120  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

sternly  resolved  to  banish  all  doubts  from  his 
mind. 

"Well,  George,"  said  Andrews,  as  he  was 
about  to  leave  the  room,  "if  you  get  through 
this  railroad  ride  in  safety  you  will  have  some- 
thing interesting  to  remember  all  your  life."  In 
another  moment  he  had  gone.  The  time  for 
action  had  almost  arrived. 


CHAPTEE  Y 

ON   THE    KAIL 

At  an  early  hour  the  next  morning,  just  be- 
fore daylight,  the  conspirators  were  standing  on 
the  platform  of  the  Marietta  station,  awaiting 
the  arrival  of  their  train — the  train  which  they 
hoped  soon  to  call  theirs  in  reality.  They  were 
all  in  civilian  dress  ;  even  Walter  Jenks  had  con- 
trived to  discard  his  uniform  of  a  Confederate 
officer,  regarding  it  as  too  conspicuous,  and  he 
was  habited  in  an  ill-fitting  suit  which  made 
him  look  like  an  honest,  industrious  mechanic. 

Andrews  was  pacing  up  and  down  with  an 
anxious,  resolute  face.  He  realized  that  the 
success  of  the  manoeuvre  which  they  were  about 
to  execute  rested  upon  his  own  shoulders,  but  he 
had  no  idea  of  flinching.  "Before  night  has 
come,"  he  was  thinking  confidently,  "  we  shall 
be  within  the  lines  of  General  Mitchell,  and  soon 
all  America  will  be  ringing  with  the  story  of  our 
dash." 


122  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

George,  no  less  sanguine,  was  standing  near 
Watson  and  Macgreggor,  and  occasionally  slip- 
ping a  lump  of  sugar  into  the  overcoat  pocket 
which  served  as  a  sort  of  kennel  for  the  tiny 
Waggie.  There  was  nothing  about  the  party  to 
attract  undue  attention.  They  pretended,  for 
the  most  part,  to  be  strangers  one  to  another, 
and,  to  aid  in  the  deception,  they  had  bought 
railroad  tickets  for  different  places — for  Kings- 
ton, Adairsville,  Calhoun  and  other  stations 
to  the  northward,  between  Marietta  and 
Chattanooga. 

Soon  the  train  was  sweeping  up  to  the  plat- 
form. It  was  a  long  one,  with  locomotive, 
tender,  three  baggage  cars  and  a  number  of 
passenger  cars.  The  adventurers  clambered  on 
it  through  various  doors,  but  at  last  reached  the 
passenger  car  nearest  to  the  engine.  Here  they 
seated  themselves  quite  as  if  each  man  had  no 
knowledge  of  any  one  else.  In  another  minute 
the  train,  which  was  well  filled,  went  rolling  away 
from  Marietta  and  along  the  bend  around  the 
foot  of  Kenesaw  Mountain.  "  Only  eight  miles," 
thought  George,  "  and  then " 

The  conductor  of  the  train,  a  young  man  with 


On  the  Rail  123 

a  very  intelligent  face,  looked  searchingly  at  the 
boy  as  he  examined  his  ticket.  "  Too  young," 
George  heard  him  mutter  under  his  breath,  as  he 
passed  on  to  the  other  passengers. 

A  thrill  of  feverish  excitement  stirred  the  lad. 
"  What  did  he  mean  by  too  young  ? "  he  asked 
himself.  "  Can  he  possibly  have  gotten  wind  of 
our  expedition?"  But  the  conductor  did  not 
return,  and  it  was  not  until  long  afterwards  that 
George  was  able  to  understand  what  was  meant 
by  the  expression,  "  Too  young."  The  man  had 
been  warned  by  the  Confederate  authorities  that 
a  number  of  young  Southerners  who  had  been 
conscripted  into  the  army  were  trying  to  escape 
from  service,  and  might  use  the  cars  for  that 
purpose.  He  was  ordered,  therefore,  to  arrest 
any  such  runaways  that  he  might  find.  When 
he  looked  at  George  it  is  probable  that  he 
thought :  "  This  boy  is  too  young  to  be  a  con- 
script," and  he  evidently  gave  unconscious  voice 
to  what  was  passing  through  his  mind.  Fortu- 
nately enough,  he  saw  nothing  suspicious  in  any 
of  the  Northerners. 

The  train  ran  rather  slowly,  so  that  it  was 
bright  daylight  before  it  reached  Big  Shanty. 


124  Chasing  an  Iron  Morse 

"  Big  Shanty  ;  twenty  minutes  for  breakfast ! " 
shouted  the  conductor  and  the  brakemen. 
George's  heart  beat  so  fast  that  he  almost  feared 
some  one  would  hear  it,  and  ask  him  what  was 
the  matter.  The  hoarse  cries  of  the  employees 
as  they  announced  the  name  of  the  station  made 
him  realize  that  now,  after  all  these  hours  of  prep- 
aration and  preliminary  danger,  the  first  act  of 
his  drama  of  war  had  begun.  Every  one  of  his 
companions  experienced  the  same  feeling,  but, 
like  him,  none  had  any  desire  to  draw  back. 

No  sooner  had  the  cars  come  to  a  standstill 
than  nearly  all  the  passengers,  excepting  the 
Northerners,  quickly  left  their  seats,  to  repair  to 
the  long,  low  shanty  or  eating-room  from  which 
the  station  took  its  un  poetic  name.  Then  the 
train  hands,  including  the  engineer  and  fireman, 
followed  the  example  of  the  hungry  passengers, 
and  hurried  off  to  breakfast.  The  engine  was 
deserted.  This  was  even  better  than  the  ad- 
venturers could  have  hoped,  for  they  had  feared 
that  it  might  be  necessary  to  overpower  the 
engineer  before  they  could  get  away  on  their 
race. 

The  twenty-one  men  and  the  one  boy  left  in  the 


On  the  Rail  125 

forward  passenger  car  looked  anxiously,  guard- 
edly, at  one  another.  More  than  one  felt  in  his 
clothes  to  make  sure  that  he  had  his  revolver. 
Andrews  left  the  car  for  half  a  minute,  dropped  to 
the  ground,  and  glanced  rapidly  up  and  down 
the  track.  There  was  no  obstruction  visible. 
Within  a  stone's  throw  of  him,  however,  sentries 
were  posted  on  the  outskirts  of  the  Confederate 
camp.  He  scanned  the  station,  which  was  di- 
rectly across  the  track  from  the  encampment, 
and  was  glad  to  see,  exactly  as  he  had  expected, 
that  it  had  no  telegraph  office  from  which  a  dis- 
patch concerning  the  coming  escapade  might  be 
sent.  Having  thus  satisfied  himself  that  the 
coast  was  clear,  and  the  time  propitious,  he  re- 
entered the  car. 

"All  right,  boys,"  he  said,  very  calmly  (as 
calmly,  indeed,  as  if  he  were  merely  inviting  the 
men  to  breakfast),  "  let  us  go  now ! " 

The  men  arose,  quietly,  as  if  nothing  startling 
were  about  to  happen,  left  the  car,  and  walked 
hurriedly  to  the  head  of  the  train.  "  Each  man 
to  his  post,"  ordered  Andrews.     "  Ready ! " 

In  less  time  than  it  takes  to  write  this  account 
the  seizure  of  the  train  was  accomplished,  in 


126  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

plain  view  of  the  puzzled  sentries.  The  two 
men  who  were  to  act  as  engineer  and  assistant 
engineer  clambered  into  the  empty  cab  of  the 
locomotive,  as  did  also  Andrews  and  Jenks. 
The  latter  was  to  be  the  fireman.  One  of  the 
men  uncoupled  the  passenger  cars,  so  that  the 
stolen  train  would  consist  only  of  the  engine, 
tender,  and  the  three  baggage  cars.  Into  one  of 
these  baggage  c^rs  the  majority  of  the  party 
climbed,  shutting  the  doors  at  either  end  after 
them,  while  the  two  men  who  were  to  serve  as 
brakemen  stationed  themselves  upon  the  roof. 
"Watson  and  Macgreggor  were  in  this  car,  while 
George,  with  Waggie  in  his  pocket,  was  stand- 
ing in  the  tender,  his  handsome  face  aglow  with 
excitement,  and  his  eyes  sparkling  like  stars. 

"All  ready!  Go!"  cried  Andrews.  The 
engineer  opened  the  valve  of  the  locomotive; 
the  wheels  began  to  revolve ;  in  another  second 
the  train  was  moving  off  towards  Chattanooga. 
The  next  instant  Big  Shanty  was  in  an  uproar. 
As  he  peered  over  the  ledge  of  the  tender,  and 
looked  back,  George  saw  the  sentries  running 
here  and  there,  as  the  passengers  in  the  break- 
fast-room came  swarming  out  on  the  platform. 


On  the  Rail  127 

There  were  shouts  from  many  voices;  he  even 
heard  the  report  of  several  rifles. 

But  shouts  or  shots  from  rifles  could  not  avail 
now.  The  engine  was  dancing  along  the  track 
on  the  road  to  Chattanooga;  Big  Shanty  was 
soon  many  yards  behind.  George  took  Waggie 
out  of  his  pocket,  and  held  him  up  in  the  air  by 
the  little  fellow's  forepaws.  "  Say  good-bye  to 
the  Confeds,"  he  shouted,  "  for  by  to-night,  Wag, 
you'll  be  in  the  Union  lines ! "  The  dog  barked 
gleefully ;  and  jumped  about  on  the  platform  of 
the  tender,  glad  enough  to  have  a  little  freedom 
again.  Then  Waggie  was  replaced  in  his  mas- 
ter's pocket. 

Andrews,  who  was  sitting  on  the  right-hand 
seat  of  the  cab,  looked  the  picture  of  delight. 

"How  was  that  for  a  starter?"  he  cried. 
"  It's  a  good  joke  on  Watson :  he  was  so  sure  the 
sentries  would  stop  us,  and  the  soldiers  didn't 
realize  what  we  were  doing  until  it  was  too  late — 
for  them  !     Hurrah  !  " 

It  was  all  that  the  four  men  in  the  cab,  and 
that  George  in  the  tender,  could  possibly  do  to 
keep  their  balance.  The  road-bed  was  very  rough 
and  full  of  curves;  the  country  was  mountain- 


128  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

ous,  and  the  track  itself  was  in  wretched  condi- 
tion. Yet  it  was  a  magnificent  sight  as  "The 
General,"  which  was  the  name  of  the  engine, 
careered  along  through  the  picturesque  country 
like  some  faithful  horse  which  tries,  with  all  its 
superb  powers  of  muscle,  to  take  its  master  farther 
and  farther  away  from  a  dangerous  enemy. 

But  suddenly  the  engine  began  to  slacken  its 
speed,  and  at  last  came  to  a  complete  standstill. 
Andrews,  who  had  made  his  way  into  the  tender, 
with  considerable  difficulty,  in  order  to  speak  to 
George,  turned  a  trifle  pale. 

"  What's  the  matter.  Brown  ?  "  he  shouted  to 
the  engineer. 

"  The  fire's  nearly  out,  and  there's  no  steam," 
was  the  rejoinder.  At  the  same  moment  the 
men  in  the  baggage  car  opened  the  door  nearest 
the  tender,  and  demanded  to  know  what  had 
happened. 

Andrews  called  back  to  them  that  there  would 
only  be  a  short  delay. 

"  It's  only  the  fire  that's  out,"  he  added  ;  "  and 
I'm  thankful  it  is  nothing  worse.  "When  I  saw 
the  train  slowing  up  I  was  afraid  some  of  the 
machinery  had  broken."     Ko  one  understood 


On  the  Rail  129 

better  than  he  how  a  broken  engine  would  have 
stranded  all  his  men  in  the  enemy's  country,  only 
a  short  distance  away,  comparatively,  from  Big 
Shanty  and  the  Confederate  camp. 

George  worked  with  a  will  in  assisting  the  men 
in  the  cab  to  convey  wood  from  the  tender 
into  the  engine  furnace.  In  three  minutes  "  The 
General "  had  resumed  its  way. 

"I  wonder,"  thought  George,  as  the  train 
twisted  around  a  curve  and  then  sped  across  a 
narrow  embankment,  "if  any  attempt  will  be 
made  to  follow  us."  But  the  very  idea  of  such 
pursuit  seemed  absurd. 

Andrews  turned  to  Jenks  with  a  smiling  coun- 
tenance. "  The  most  difficult  part  of  our  journey 
is  already  over,"  he  said  triumphantly.  "  There's 
only  one  unscheduled  train  to  meet,  in  addition 
to  the  two  regulars.  After  I  meet  it,  probably  at 
Kingston,  twenty-five  miles  or  more  farther  on, 
we  can  put  the  old  '  General '  to  full  speed,  and 
begin  our  work !  We  have  got  the  upper  hand 
at  last." 

"Don't  forget  your  telegraph  wire  is  to  be 
cut,"  said  Jenks,  as  he  jammed  his  shabby  cap  over 
his  head,  to  prevent  it  from  sailing  off  into  space. 


130  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

"Wait  a  couple  of  minutes,"  answered  the 
leader.  "  We'll  cut  it."  He  knew  that  although 
there  was  no  telegraph  station  at  Big  Shanty, 
yet  the  enemy  might  tap  the  wire,  if  it  were  not 
cut,  and  thus  send  word  along  the  line  that  a 
train  manned  by  Northern  spies  was  to  be  watched 
for  and  peremptorily  stopped.  The  simplest  ob- 
struction on  the  track  would  be  sufficient  to 
bring  this  journey  to  an  untimely  end. 

"Brown,  we'll  stop  here,"  commanded  the 
leader,  a  minute  or  two  later,  as  the  engine  was 
running  over  a  comparatively  level  section.  "  The 
General "  was  soon  motionless,  whereupon  Wat- 
son, peering  out  from  the  baggage  car,  called  out : 
"  Anything  wrong  ?  " 

"  Only  a  little  wire-cutting  to  be  done,"  shouted 
Andrews.  Then  coming  to  George,  he  said: 
"  Look  here,  my  boy,  how  are  you  on  climbing  ?  " 

"  Never  had  a  tree  beat  me  yet,"  said  the  lad. 

"  Then  try  your  skill  at  that  pole  yonder,  and 
see  if  you  can  get  to  the  top  of  it." 

Without  waiting  to  make  answer  George 
handed  Waggle  to  Jenks,  jumped  from  the 
tender  to  the  ashy  road-bed,  and  started  towards 
the  nearest  telegraph  pole,  only  a  few  feet  away 


On  the  Rail  13 1 

from  the  engine.  It  was  a  far  more  difficult  task 
to  coax  one's  way  up  a  smooth  pole  than  up  the 
rough  bark  of  a  tree,  as  George  soon  learned. 
Twice  he  managed  to  clamber  half  way  up  the 
pole,  and  twice  he  slid  ignominiously  to  the 
ground.  But  he  was  determined  to  succeed,  and 
none  the  less  so  because  the  men  in  the  baggage 
car  were  looking  on  as  intently  as  if  they  were 
at  the  circus.  Upon  making  the  third  attempt  he 
conquered,  and  reached  the  top  of  the  pole  amid 
the  cheering  of  the  spectators. 

"Now  hold  on  there  for  a  minute,  George," 
called  Andrews.  He  produced  from  one  of  his 
pockets  a  ball  of  very  thick  twine,  or  cord,  to  one 
end  of  which  he  tied  a  small  stick  of  kindling- 
wood,  brought  from  the  tender. .  Next  he  leaned 
out  from  the  cab  and  threw  the  stick  into  the 
air.  It  flew  over  the  telegraph  w^ire,  and  then 
to  the  ground,  so  that  the  cord,  the  other  end  of 
which  he  held  in  his  left  hand,  passed  up  across 
the  wire,  and  so  down  again.  To  the  end  which 
he  held  Andrews  tied  a  good-sized  axe. 

"  Do  you  see  what  I  want  ?  "  he  asked  the  boy, 
who  was  resting  himself  on  the  cross-bar  sup- 
porting the  wire. 


132  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

George  needed  no  prompting.  The  cord  was 
eight  or  nine  feet  away  from  him ;  to  reach  it  he 
must  move  out  on  the  telegraph  wire,  hand  over 
hand,  with  his  feet  dangling  in  the  air.  Slowly 
he  swung  himself  from  the  cross-bar  to  the 
wire,  and  began  to  finger  his  way  towards  the 
cord.  But  this  was  an  experience  new  to  the 
expert  tree-climber  ;  ere  he  had  proceeded  more 
than  three  feet  his  hands  slipped  and  he  fell  to  the 
ground.  The  distance  was  thirty-five  feet  or 
more,  and  the  lookers-on  cried  out  in  alarm. 
The  boy  would  surely  break  his  legs — perhaps 
his  neck ! 

But  while  Master  George  might  not  be  an 
adept  in  handling  a  wire  he  had  learned  a  few 
things  about  falling  from  trees.  As  he  came 
tumbling  down  he  gracefully  turned  a  somer- 
sault and  landed,  quite  unhurt,  upon  his  feet. 

"  I'll  do  it  yet,"  he  maintained  pluckily,  run- 
ning back  to  the  telegraph  pole. 

"Wait,  George,"  shouted  Andrews.  He 
leaped  from  the  cab,  and  taking  a  new  piece  of 
the  cord,  tied  it  around  the  lad's  waist.  "  If  I 
had  the  sense  I  was  born  with  I  might  have 
done  that  first,"  he  muttered. 


On  the  Rail  133 

George  began  his  second  ascent  of  the  pole, 
and  this  time  reached  the  top  without  hindrance 
or  mishap.  Andrews  now  fastened  the  axe  to 
the  cord,  of  which  George  had  one  end ;  in  a  few 
seconds  the  axe  had  been  drawn  up  by  the  boy. 
Then,  with  his  left  hand  holding  on  to  the  cross- 
bar, and  his  legs  firmly  wound  around  the  pole, 
he  took  the  axe  in  his  right  hand  and  hit  the 
wire.  Three  times  did  he  thus  strike;  at  the 
third  blow  the  wire  snapped  asunder,  and  the 
longer  of  the  two  pieces  fell  to  the  ground.  He 
let  the  tool  fall,  and  slid  down  the  pole  as  the 
.men  cheered  him  lustily.  Andrews  now  took 
the  axe,  cut  the  dangling  wire  in  another  place, 
and  threw  the  piece  thus  secured  into  the 
tender. 

"  They  can't  connect  that  line  in  a  hurry,"  he 
said,  as  he  turned  to  George  with  the  remark : 
"  Well,  my  son,  you're  earning  your  salt ! " 
George,  blushing  like  a  peony,  felt  a  thrill  of  pride. 

"  And  now,  fellows,"  added  Andrews,  address- 
ing the  men  in  the  baggage  car,  "  it  will  be  best 
to  take  up  a  rail,  so  that  if  we  are  pursued,  by 
any  chance,  the  enemy  will  have  some  trouble  in 
getting  on  any  further." 


134  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

The  occupants  of  the  car,  headed  by  "Watson, 
sprang  to  the  ground.  Andrews  handed  him  a 
smooth  iron  bar,  about  four  feet  in  length.  "  We 
have  no  track-raising  instruments,"  explained  the 
leader,  "  but  I  guess  this  will  answer."  Watson 
managed  to  loosen  some  of  the  spikes  on  the 
track,  in  the  rear  of  the  train,  by  means  of  this 
bar ;  later  several  of  his  companions  succeeded 
in  placing  a  log  under  the  rail  and  prying  it  up 
so  that  at  last  the  piece  of  iron  had  been  entirely 
separated  from  the  track. 

The  perspiration  was  dripping  from  Watson's 
brow.  "  Great  guns !  "  he  growled,  "  we  are 
acting  as  if  we  had  a  whole  eternity  of  time  be- 
fore us." 

"  Don't  worry  about  that,"  said  Andrews,  re- 
assuringly, as  he  leaped  into  the  cab ;  "  we  have 
been  running  ahead  of  schedule  time.  But 
hurry  up  ;  there's  lots  of  work  before  us ! "  In 
the  next  minute  the  Northerners  were  once  more 
on  their  way. 

After  the  train  had  run  a  distance  of  five 
miles,  Andrews  signaled  to  the  engineer,  and  it 
was  brought  slowly  to  a  stop.  The  chief  jumped 
from  the  engine,  w^alked  along  the  track  to  the 


On  the  Rail  135 

end  car,  and  gazed  intently  to  the  south- 
ward. 

"  No  sign  of  pursuit  thus  far,"  he  said  to  him- 
self. Then,  turning  back  and  speaking  to  the 
men  in  the  baggage  car  who  had  once  more 
opened  the  door,  he  cried  :  "  There's  time,  boys, 
for  another  wrestle  with  the  telegraph — only 
this  time  we  will  try  a  new  plan."  This  time, 
indeed,  a  pole  was  chopped  down,  and  placed 
(after  the  wire  had  been  cut)  upon  the  track 
directly  behind  the  last  baggage  car. 

"  There,"  said  Andrews,  "  that  will  have  to  be 
lifted  off  before  our  friends  the  enemy  can  steam 
by — even  if  they  have  an  engine  good  for  seventy 
miles  an  hour." 

"Walter  Jenks  came  walking  back  to  the  cab. 
He  looked  pale  and  tired. 

"  What's  the  matter  ?  "  asked  Andrews. 

"  I  strained  my  back  a  bit  in  helping  the  fel- 
lows to  put  that  pole  on  the  track,"  was  the  answer. 

"  Go  back  into  the  car  and  take  a  rest,"  urged 
the  leader.  "  George  can  take  your  place  as  fire- 
man.    Eh,  George  ?  " 

The  boy,  coming  up  at  that  moment,  and  hear- 
ing the  suggestion,  smiled  almost  as  broadly  as 


136  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

the  famous  Cheshire  cat.  He  longed  to  know 
that  he  was  of  some  real  use  in  the  expedition. 
So  Jenks  retired  to  the  baggage  car,  carrying 
with  him,  for  a  temporary  companion,  the  strug- 
gling Waggie,  who  might  be  very  much  in 
George's  way  under  the  new  arrangement  of 
duties. 

Off  once  more  rattled  "The  General,"  and 
George,  in  his  capacity  of  fireman,  felt  about 
three  inches  taller  than  he  had  five  minutes  be- 
fore. The  spirits  of  Andrews  seemed  to  be 
rising  higher  and  higher.  Thus  far  everything 
had  gone  so  successfully  that  he  began  to  believe 
that  the  happy  ending  of  this  piece  of  daring  was 
already  assured. 

"  Now,  my  boys,  for  a  bit  of  diplomacy,"  he 
said,  at  last,  as  the  occupants  of  the  cab  saw  that 
they  were  approaching  a  small  station  flanked 
by  half  a  dozen  houses.  "  Stop  '  The  General ' 
here.  Brown,  for  I  think  there's  a  tank  at  the 
place." 

As  the  train  reached  the  platform  and  slowly 
stopped,  the  station-master,  a  rustic-looking  indi- 
vidual with  a  white  beard  three  feet  long, 
shambled  up  to  the  cab. 


On  the  Rail  137 

"  Ain't  this  Fuller's  train  ?  "  he  drawled,  gaz- 
ing curiously  at  the  four  Northerners,  as  he 
gave  a  hitch  to  his  shabby  trousers.  He  could 
not  understand  the  presence  of  the  strangers  in 
the  engine,  nor  the  disappearance  of  the  passen- 
ger cars. 

Andrews  leaned  out  of  the  cab  window.  He 
knew  that  Fuller  was  the  conductor  of  the  stolen 
train,  whom  they  had  left  behind  at  Big  Shanty. 
"  No,"  he  said,  in  a  tone  of  authority,  "  this  is 
not  Fuller's  train.  He'll  be  along  later ;  we  have 
the  right  of  way  all  along  the  line.  I'm  running 
a  special  right  through  to  General  Beauregard  at 
Corinth.     He  is  badly  in  need  of  powder." 

"Be  the  powder  there?"  asked  the  station- 
master,  pointing  to  the  three  baggage  cars. 

The  men  hiding  in  one  of  them  had  received 
their  instructions ;  they  were  as  silent  as  the 
grave,  and  their  doors  were  closed.  The  brake- 
men  sat  mute  on  top  of  the  cars. 

"  Yes,  there's  enough  powder  in  there  to  blow 
up  the  whole  State  of  Georgia,"  returned  An- 
drews. 

"Wall,  I'd  give  ray  shirt  and  my  shoes  to 
Beauregard  if  he  wanted  'em,"  said  the  man  of 


138  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

the  long  beard.  "  He's  the  best  General  we  have 
in  the  Confederate  service; — yes,  better  even 
than  Robert  Lee." 

"  Well,  then  help  Beauregard  by  helping  me. 
I  want  more  water — I  see  you  have  a  tank  here 
— and  more  wood." 

"  You  can  have  all  you  can  hold,"  cried  the 
station-master,  enthusiastically.  He  was  only 
too  glad  to  be  of  use. 

Thus  it  happened  that  ten  minutes  later  "  The 
General"  was  speeding  away  from  the  station 
with  a  fresh  supply  of  water  and  a  huge  pile  of 
wood  in  the  tender. 

"  That  yarn  worked  admirably,  didn't  it  ? " 
asked  Andrews.  The  engineer  and  his  assistant 
laughed.  George  shut  the  heav}'^  door  of  the 
furnace,  into  which  he  had  been  throwing  wood, 
and  stood  up,  very  red  in  the  face,  albeit  smiling. 

"  But  even  if  the  story  was  true,"  he  suggested, 
"  you  couldn't  get  through  to  Corinth." 

"  Exactly,"  laughed  the  leader,  "  but  our  goat- 
bearded  friend  at  the  station  didn't  think  of  that 
fact.  Corinth  is  away  off  in  the  state  of  Missis- 
sippi, near  its  northern  border,  nearly  three  hun- 
dred miles  away  from  here ;  besides,  if  I  were  a 


On  the  Rail  139 

Southerner,  I  couldn't  possibly  reach  there  with- 
out running  afoul  of  General  Mitchell  and  his 
forces,  either  around  Huntsville,  or  Chattanooga. 
However,  I  knew  more  about  Mitchell's  move- 
ments than  the  station  man  did — and  that's 
where  I  had  the  advantage." 

"We  may  not  have  such  plain  sailing  at 
Kingston,"  said  the  engineer,  as  "  The  General " 
just  grazed  an  inquisitive  cow  which  showed 
signs  of  loitering  on  the  track. 

"  "We'll  have  more  people  to  deal  with  there," 
admitted  Andrews,  "and  we  must  be  all  the 
more  on  our  guard." 

Both  the  men  spoke  wisely.  It  was  just  two 
hours  after  leaving  Big  Shanty,  and  about  thirty 
miles  had  been  covered,  when  the  alleged  pow- 
der-train rolled  into  the  station  at  the  town  of 
Kingston. 

"  I  hope  we  meet  that  irregular  freight  train 
here,"  muttered  Andrews.  There  were  certainly 
plenty  of  cars  in  evidence  on  the  sidings ;  indeed, 
the  station,  which  was  the  junction  for  a  branch 
line  running  to  Rome,  Georgia,  presented  a 
bustling  appearance. 

No    sooner   was   "  The  General "  motionless 


140  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

than  a  train-dispatcher  emerged  from  a  gather- 
ing of  idlers  on  the  platform  and  walked  up  to 
the  locomotive.  He  held  in  his  hand  a  tele- 
graphic blank.  As  he  saw  Andrews,  who  was 
leaning  out  of  the  cab  with  an  air  of  impatience 
that  was  partly  real  and  partly  assumed,  the  dis- 
patcher drew  back  in  surprise.  He  recognized  "  The 
General,"  but  there  were  strange  men  in  the  cab. 

"  I  thought  this  was  Fuller's  train,"  he  said. 
"  It's  Fuller's  engine." 

"  Yes,  it  is  Fuller's  engine,  but  he's  to  follow 
me  with  his  regular  train  and  another  engine. 
This  is  a  special  carrying  ammunition  for  Gen- 
eral Beauregard,  and  I  must  have  the  right  of 
way  clear  along  the  line  ! " 

The  dispatcher  scanned  the  train.  He  saw 
nothing  to  excite  his  suspicions.  The  baggage 
cars  were  closed,  and  might  easily  be  filled  with 
powder  and  shot ;  the  men  in  the  engine,  and  the 
two  brakemen  on  the  top  of  one  car  had  a  per- 
fectly natural  appearance. 

"  Well,  you  can't  move  on  yet,"  he  announced. 
"  Here's  a  telegram  saying  a  local  freight  from 
the  north  will  soon  be  here,  and  you  must  wait 
till  she  comes  up." 


On  the  Rail  141 

Andrews  bit  his  lip  in  sheer  vexation.  He 
had  reasoned  that  this  irregular  freight  train 
would  already  be  at  Kingston  on  his  arrival,  and 
he  hated  the  idea  of  a  delay.  The  loiterers  on 
the  platform  were  listening  eagerly  to  the  con- 
versation; he  felt  that  he  was  attracting  too 
much  attention.  But  there  was  no  help  for  it. 
He  could  not  go  forward  on  this  single-track 
railroad  until  the  exasperating  freight  had 
reached  the  station. 

"  All  right,"  he  answered,  endeavoring  to  look 
unconcerned,  "  shunt  us  off." 

Within  three  minutes  the  train  had  been 
shifted  from  the  main  track  to  a  side  track,  and 
a  curious  crowd  had  gathered  around  "The 
General." 

It  was  a  critical  situation.  The  idlers  began 
to  ply  the  occupants  of  the  cab  with  a  hundred 
questions  which  must  be  answered  in  some  shape 
unless  suspicion  was  to  be  aroused — and  sus- 
picion, under  such  circumstances,  would  mean 
the  holding  back  of  the  train,  and  the  failure  of 
the  expedition. 

"  "Where  did  you  come  from  ?  "  "  How  much 
powder  have  you  got  on  board  ?  "    "  Why  did 


142  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

you  take  Fuller's  engine  ?  "  "  Why  is  Beaure- 
gard in  such  a  hurry  for  ammunition  ? "  were 
among  the  queries  hurled  at  the  defenceless 
heads  of  the  four  conspirators. 

George,  as  he  gazed  out  upon  the  Kingstonians, 
began  to  feel  rather  nervous.  He  realized  that 
one  contradictory  answer,  one  slip  of  the  tongue, 
might  spoil  everything.  And  in  this  case  to 
spoil  was  a  verb  meaning  imprisonment  and  ulti- 
mate death. 

A  dapper  young  man,  with  small,  piercing 
eyes  and  a  head  that  suggested  a  large  bump  of 
self-conceit,  called  out :  "  You  chaps  can't  reach 
Beauregard.  You'll  run  right  into  the  Yankee 
forces." 

"  I've  got  my  orders  and  I'm  going  to  try  it," 
doggedly  answered  Andrews. 

"And  run  your  ammunition  right  into  the 
hands  of  the  Yankees?"  sneered  the  dapper 
young  man.  "I  don't  see  the  sense  in 
that." 

An  angry  flush  came  into  Andrews'  cheeks. 
"  When  you  have  been  in  the  Confederate  army 
a  little  while,  young  man,  as  I  have,"  he  said, 
"you'll  learn  to  obey  orders  and  ask  no  ques- 


On  the  Rail  143 

tions.  Why  don't  you  go  serve  your  country,  as 
other  young  men  are  doing,  instead  of  idling 
around  at  a  safe  distance  from  the  bullets  ?  " 

At  this  sally  a  shout  of  laughter  went  up  from 
the  crowd.  It  was  evident  that  the  dapper 
young  man  was  not  popular.  He  made  no  an- 
swer, but  went  away.  "Will  that  freight  never 
turn  up  ?  "  thought  Andrews. 

Suddenly  there  came  a  barking  from  the  bag- 
gage car  nearest  the  tender,  wherein  were  con- 
fined the  majority  of  the  party.  George's  heart 
beat  the  faster  as  he  listened ;  he  knew  that  the 
querulous  little  cries  were  uttered  by  Waggie. 

An  old  man,  with  snow-white  hair  and  beard, 
cried  out :  "  Is  that  dog  in  the  car  part  of  your 
ammunition  ?  "  His  companions  laughed  at  the 
witticism.  For  once  Andrews  was  nonplused. 
George  came  bravely  to  the  rescue. 

"  It's  a  dog  in  a  box,"  he  said,  "  and  it's  a 
present  to  General  Beauregard." 

"  Well,  I  hopes  the  purp  won't  be  blown  up," 
remarked  the  old  man.  There  was  another 
titter,  but  the  story  was  believed. 

"  Things  are  getting  a  little  too  warm  here," 
Andrews  whispered  to  George.     As  the  words 


144  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

left  his  lips  he  heard  the  screeching  of  a  loco- 
motive.    "  It's  the  freight ! "  he  cried. 

It  was,  indeed,  the  longed-for  freight  train ; 
puffing  laboriously,  it  came  up  to  the  station 
and  was  quickly  switched  off  to  a  siding. 

"  Now  we  can  get  rid  of  these  inquisitive  hay- 
seeds," said  Andrews. 

"  Look,"  cried  George ;  "  I  see  a  red  flag !  " 
He  pointed  to  the  rear  platform  of  the  end 
freight  car,  from  which  was  suspended  a  piece  of 
red  bunting.  Andrews  stamped  his  foot  and 
indulged  in  some  forcible  language.  He  knew 
that  the  flag  indicated  the  presence  of  another 
train  back  of  the  freight. 

Andrews  was  out  of  the  cab  like  a  flash. 
"  What  does  this  red  flag  mean  ?  "  he  demanded 
of  the  conductor  of  the  freight  train,  who 
was  about  to  cross  the  tracks  to  enter  the 
station. 

"  What  does  what  mean  ?  "  asked  the  conduc- 
tor, in  a  tone  of  mild  surprise. 

"  Why  is  the  road  blocked  up  behind  you  ?  " 
asked  the  leader.  Had  he  been  the  President  of 
the  Southern  Confederacy  he  could  not  have 
spoken  more  imperiously.     "I  have  a  special 


On  the  Rail  145 

train  with  orders  to  take  a  load  of  powder  to 
General  Beauregard  without  delay  !  And  here 
I  find  my  way  stopped  by  miserable  freight 
trains  which  are  not  a  quarter  as  important  as 
my  three  cars  of  ammunition." 

"I'm  sorry,  sir,"  explained  the  conductor, 
"but  it  ain't  my  fault.  Fact  is,  Mitchell,  the 
Yankee  General,  has  captured  Huntsville,  and 
we're  moving  everything  we  can  out  of  Chatta- 
nooga, because  it's  said  he  is  marching  for  there. 
We  have  had  to  split  this  freight  up  into  two 
sections — and  t'other  section  is  a  few  miles 
behind.  Don't  worry.  It'll  be  here  soon.  But, 
look  here,  sir !  You'll  never  be  able  to  reach 
Beauregard.  General  Mitchell  will  get  you  long 
before  you  are  near  Corinth." 

* "  Pooh  !  "  replied  Andrews.  "  Mitchell  may 
have  taken  Huntsville,  but  he  can't  stay  there. 
Beauregard  has,  no  doubt,  sent  him  flying  by 
this  time.  And,  anyway,  I'm  bound  to  obey 
orders  from  Richmond,  come  what  may." 

"  I  wish  you  luck,  sir,"  said  the  freight  con- 
ductor, who  was  impressed  by  the  authoritative 
bearing  of  Andrews,  and  believed  the  spy  to  be 
some  Confederate  officer  of  high  rank. 


146  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

The  leader  returned  to  the  cab.  It  was  still 
surrounded  by  the  curious  idlers. 

"  This  is  what  I  call  pretty  bad  railroad  man- 
agement," he  grumbled,  loud  enough  to  be  heard 
by  the  Kingstonians,  "  This  line  should  be  kept 
clear  when  it's  necessary  to  get  army  supplies 
quickly  from  place  to  place.  What  are  fifty 
freight  trains  compared  to  powder  for  the 
troops  ?  " 

The  minutes  passed  slowly  ;  it  seemed  as  if  that 
second  freight  train  would  never  come.  At  last 
a  dull,  rumbling  sound  on  the  track  gave  warn- 
ing of  the  approach  of  the  second  section.  In  a 
few  moments  the  heavily-laden  cars,  drawn  by  a 
large  engine,  had  glided  by  "  The  General,"  down 
the  main  track.  The  men  in  the  cab  gave  un- 
conscious sighs  of  relief.  Now  they  could  move 
onward.  But  what  was  it  that  the  sharp  eyes  of 
George  detected?  Yes,  there  could  be  no  mis- 
take. At  the  end  of  the  second  freight  train 
was  another  red  flag. 

"  Look  ! "  he  whispered.  Andrews  saw  the 
flag,  and  turned  white. 

"How  many  more  trains  are  we  to  wait 
for  ?  "  he  said. 


On  the  Rail  147 

After  regaining  his  composure  he  left  the 
engine,  to  seek  the  conductor  of  the  new  train. 
He  was  back  again  in  five  minutes. 

«  Well  ?  "  asked  George. 

"  I  find  from  the  conductor  that  there's  still 
another  section  behind  him,"  explained  Andrews. 
"The  Confederate  commander  at  Chattanooga 
fears  the  approach  of  General  Mitchell  and  has 
ordered  all  the  rolling  stock  of  the  railroad  to 
be  sent  south  to  Atlanta.  The  new  train  should 
be  here  in  ten  minutes." 

In  the  meantime  the  people  around  the  station 
had  all  heard  of  the  danger  which  threatened 
Chattanooga  from  the  Union  army.  The  train- 
dispatcher  came  running  over  to  the  engine,  and 
doffed  his  cap  to  Andrews. 

"  It  ain't  none  of  my  business,"  he  said,  with 
supreme  indifference  to  any  rules  of  grammar, 
"  but  they  say  Mitchell  is  almost  at  Chat- 
tanooga— and  you'll  never  get  through  to 
Corinth." 

Andrews  assumed  an  air  of  contemptuous 
superiority. 

"  I  happen  to  know  more  of  General  Mitchell's 
movements    than    you    do,"    he    said.      "  And, 


148  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

what's  more,  no  Confederate  officer  takes  orders 
from  a  railroad  employee." 

"I  didn't  mean  any  offense,"  answered  the 
train-dispatcher. 

"  Then  go  back  and  see  that  the  switches  are 
ready  for  me  to  move  on  the  instant  the  next 
freight  gets  here,"  ordered  the  leader.  The 
young  man  walked  away,  with  a  nod  of  assent. 

"  He  talks  proud  enough,"  he  thought ;  "  he 
must  be  a  relation  of  Jefferson  Davis,  from  his 
airs." 

After  the  dispatcher  had  gone,  Andrews  whis- 
pered to  George :  "  We  ought  to  let  the  boys  in 
the  car  know  the  cause  of  our  detention — and 
warn  them  that  in  case  of  anything  going  wrong 
in  our  plans  they  must  be  prepared  to  fight  for 
their  lives.  Could  you  manage  to  get  word  to 
them  without  attracting  suspicion  ?  " 

The  boy  made  no  verbal  answer.  But  as  he 
left  the  cab  and  vaulted  to  the  ground,  his  looks 
showed  that  he  understood  what  was  wanted, 
and  proposed  to  execute  the  commission.  After 
sauntering  among  the  men  who  stood  near  the 
engine,  he  crossed  the  track  of  the  siding, 
directly  in  front  of  "  The  General's  "  headlight, 


On  the  Rail  149 

and  soon  leaned,  in  a  careless  attitude,  against 
the  car  in  which  so  many  of  his  companions  were 
waiting.  He  was  now  on  the  opposite  side  of 
the  track  from  the  Kingstonians,  but  directly 
alongside  the  main  track,  and  in  full  view  from 
the  station. 

George  began,  in  a  very  low  tone,  to  whistle  a 
few  bars  from  "  The  Blue  Bells  of  Scotland."  It 
was  a  tune  he  had  often  indulged  in  during  his 
travels  from  the  Union  camp.  As  he  finished 
there  came  a  bark  of  recognition  from  Waggie, 
and  a  slight  stir  in  the  car. 

"  Are  you  there,  "Watson  ?  "  asked  the  boy,  un- 
der his  breath,  "Can  you  hear  me?  If  you 
can,  scratch  on  the  wall." 

There  was  a  moment's  pause,  and  the  faint 
sound  of  footsteps  was  heard  within  the  car. 
Then  came  an  answering  scratch. 

George  went  on,  in  the  same  tone,  as  he  leaned 
against  the  car,  and  apparently  gazed  into  space : 
"  Andrews  wants  you — to  know — that  we're 
waiting — till  some  freight  trains — get  in — from 
Chattanooga.  But  if  anything — should  happen 
— before  we — can  get  away — be  ready  to  fight. 
Keep  Waggie  from  barking — if  you  can." 


150  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

Another  scratching  showed  that  Watson  had 
heard  and  understood.  But  Waggie  began  to 
bark  again.  George  was  filled  with  vexation. 
"  Why  did  I  let  Waggie  go  in  the  car  ? "  he 
asked  himself. 

Just  then  a  welcome  whistle  proclaimed  that 
the  third  freight  train  was  approaching.  It  was 
time ;  the  delay  at  Kingston  must  have  occupied 
nearly  an  hour — it  seemed  like  a  whole  day — 
and  the  men  about  the  railroad  station  were  be- 
coming skeptical.  They  could  not  understand 
why  the  mysterious  commander  of  the  powder- 
train  should  persist  in  wanting  to  go  on  after 
hearing  that  Mitchell  was  so  near. 

When  George  returned  to  the  engine  the  new 
freight  went  by  on  the  main  track  directly  in  the 
wake  of  the  second  freight,  which  had  been  sent 
half  a  mile  down  the  line,  to  the  southward. 
The  main  track  was  now  clear  for  Andrews. 
But  the  intrepid  leader  seemed  to  be  facing  fresh 
trouble.  He  was  standing  on  the  step  of  the 
cab,  addressing  the  old  man  who  had  charge  of 
the  switches. 

"  Switch  me  off  to  the  main  track  at  once," 
thundered  Andrews.     "  Don't  you  see,  fool,  that 


On  the  Rail  151 

the  last  local  freight  is  in,  and  I  have  a  clear 
road ! " 

There  was  a  provokingly  obstinate  twist  about 
the  switch-tender's  mouth. 

"  Switch  yourself  off,"  he  snarled.  "  I  shan't 
take  the  responsibility  for  doing  it.  You  may 
be  what  you  say  you  are,  but  I  haven't  anything 
to  prove  it.  You're  a  fool,  anyway,  to  run  right 
into  the  arms  of  the  Yankee  general." 

His  fellow-townsmen  indulged  in  a  murmur  of 
approval.  The  men  in  the  cab  saw  that  another 
minute  would  decide  their  fate,  adversely  or 
otherwise. 

"  I  order  you  to  switch  me  off — in  the  name  of 
the  Confederate  Government ! "  shouted  the 
leader. 

More  citizens  were  running  over  from  the  sta- 
tion to  find  out  the  cause  of  the  disturbance. 

"  I  don't  know  you,  and  I  won't  take  any  or- 
ders from  you  ! "  said  the  switch-tender,  more 
doggedly  than  ever.  He  walked  over  to  the  sta- 
tion, where  he  hung  up  the  keys  of  the  switch  in 
the  room  of  the  ticket-seller. 

In  a  twinkling  Andrews  had  followed  him,  and 
was  already  in  the  ticket  room. 


152  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

"  You'll  be  sorry  for  this,"  he  cried ;  "  for  I'll 
report  your  rascally  conduct  to  General  Beaure- 
gard ! "  He  seized  the  keys  as  he  spoke,  and 
shook  them  in  the  old  man's  face. 

The  latter  looked  puzzled.  He  had  begun  to 
think  that  this  business  of  sending  powder  to 
Beauregard  was  a  trick  of  some  kind,  yet  the 
confident  bearing  of  the  leader  impressed  him  at 
this  crisis.  Perhaps  he  had  made  a  mistake  in 
refusing  to  obey  the  orders  ;  but  ere  he  could 
decide  the  knotty  problem  Andrews  took  the 
keys,  hurried  from  the  station,  and  unlocked  the 
switch.  Then  he  jumped  into  the  cab,  as  he 
shouted  to  the  men  near  the  engine  :  "  Tell  your 
switch-tender  that  he  will  hear  from  General 
Beauregard  for  this ! "  He  gave  a  signal,  and 
the  engineer  grasped  the  lever  and  opened  the 
steam  valve. 

"The  General"  slowly  left  the  siding  and 
turned  into  the  main  track.  As  the  train  passed 
the  station,  heading  towards  the  north,  the 
switch-tender  was  standing  on  the  platform, 
with  a  dazed  expression  in  his  eyes.  Andrews 
tossed  the  keys  to  him,  as  he  cried  :  "  Forgive 
me  for  being  in  such  a  hurry,  but  the  Con- 


On  the  Rail  153 

federacy  can't  wait  for  you  ! "  Soon  Kingston 
was  left  behind. 

"  Keep  '  The  General '  going  at  forty  miles  an 
hour,"  said  the  leader.  "  We  have  only  the  two 
trains  to  meet  now — a  passenger  and  a  freight — 
which  won't  give  us  any  trouble.  I  tell  you,  we 
had  a  narrow  escape  at  Kingston.  More  than 
once  I  thought  we  were  all  done  for." 

"  I  was  pretty  well  scared  when  that  rascal  of 
a  Waggie  barked,"  observed  George.  The  train 
was  now  gliding  swiftly  on  past  hills  and  woods 
and  quiet  pasture-lands.  After  the  long  delay 
the  sensation  of  rapid  motion  was  delightful. 

'•By  Jove!"  cried  Andrews,  with  a  tinge  of 
humor.  "  You  must  bring  that  rogue  back  with 
you  into  the  engine.  When  he  barks  in  a  place 
where  there's  supposed  to  be  nothing  but  powder 
the  thing  doesn't  seem  quite  logical.  It  throws 
discredit  on  an  otherwise  plausible  story.  Let 
us  stop  a  couple  of  miles  from  here,  near  Adairs- 
ville,  do  some  wire-cutting,  release  Waggie,  and 
see  how  the  fellows  are  getting  along  in  the 
baggage  car." 

When  the  stop  was  made  the  men  in  the  car 
quickly  opened  the  door  and  came  tumbling  to 


154  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

the  ground.  They  were  glad  to  stretch  their 
legs  and  get  a  breath  of  fresh  air.  "W aggie 
bounded  and  frisked  with  delight  when  he 
espied  George. 

"  I've  had  a  time  with  that  dog,"  said  Jenks. 
"  I  had  a  flask  of  water  with  me,  and  he  insisted 
on  my  pouring  every  bit  of  it  out  on  the  palm  of 
my  hand,  and  letting  him  lap  it." 

The  other  occupants  of  the  car  were  crowding 
around  Andrews,  as  they  discussed  with  him  the 
fortunate  escape  from  Kingston.  Watson,  who 
seemed  to  be  fired  with  a  sudden  enthusiasm, 
addressed  the  party. 

"  Boys,"  he  said,  "  when  I  heard  that  switch- 
tender  refuse  to  put  us  on  the  main  track  I 
thought  our  hour  had  come.  But  the  coolness 
and  the  presence  of  mind  of  our  friend  Andrews 
have  saved  the  day.  Let  us  give  him  three 
cheers  !     Hurrah  !     Hurrah  !     Hurrah  !  " 

The  cheers  were  given  with  a  will. 

"Thank  you,  comrades,"  said  Andrews,  mod- 
estly. "But  don't  waste  any  time  on  me;  I 
only  did  what  any  other  man  would  have  done 
in  my  place.  Let's  get  to  work  again — time's 
precious." 


On  the  Rail  155 

At  a  hint  from  him  George  clambered  up  a 
telegraph  pole,  taking  with  him  a  piece  of  cord 
by  which  he  afterwards  drew  up  an  axe.  Then 
he  cut  the  wire,  while  others  in  the  party  were 
removing  three  rails  from  the  track  in  the  rear 
of  the  train.  The  rails  were  afterwards  de- 
posited in  the  baggage  car  occupied  by  the  men, 
as  were  also  some  wooden  cross-ties  which  were 
found  near  the  road-bed. 

"All  this  may  be  a  waste  of  time,"  said 
Andrews.  "We  shall  probably  be  in  Chat- 
tanooga before  any  one  has  a  chance  to  chase 
us." 

"  Yet  I  have  a  presentiment  that  we  shall  be 
chased,"  cried  Macgreggor.  "  I  believe  there 
will  be  a  hot  pursuit." 

His  hearers,  including  Andrews,  laughed, 
almost  scornfully. 

"  Just  wait  and  see,"  returned  Macgreggor. 
"A  Southerner  is  as  brave,  and  has  as  much 
brains  as  a  Northerner." 

We  shall  see  who  was  right  in  the  matter. 


CHAPTER  VI 

AN   UNPLEASANT   SURPRISE 

On  sped  the  fugitive  train  once  more,  and  in  a 
few  minutes  it  had  stopped,  with  much  bumping 
and  rattle  of  brakes  at  the  station  called  Adairs- 
ville.  Hardly  had  the  wheels  of  the  faithful  old 
"  General "  ceased  revolving  before  a  whistle  was 
heard  from  the  northward. 

Andrews  peered  through  the  cab  up  the 
track.  "  It's  the  regular  freight,"  he  said,  and 
calling  to  the  station  hands  who  were  gaping  at 
"Fuller's  train,"  as  they  supposed  it  must  be, 
he  told  them  the  customary  story  about  the 
powder  designed  for  General  Beauregard.  They 
believed  the  leader,  who  spoke  with  his  old  air 
of  authority,  and  they  quickly  shunted  his 
"  special "  on  to  the  side  track.  No  sooner  had 
this  been  accomplished  than  the  freight  made 
its  appearance. 

As  the  engine  of  the  latter  passed  slowly  by 
"  The  General "  Andrews  shouted  to  the  men  in 

166 


An  Unpleasant  Surprise  157 

the  cab :  "  Where's  the  passenger  train  that  is  on 
the  schedule  ?  " 

"  It  ought  to  be  right  behind  us,"  came  the  an- 
swer.   . 

"  That's  good,"  whispered  Andrews.  "  Once  let 
us  pass  that  passenger,  and  we'll  have  a  clear 
road  to  the  very  end  of  the  line." 

In  the  meantime  the  freight  was  moved  past 
the  station  and  switched  on  to  the  siding,  directly 
behind  the  "  special,"  there  to  wait  the  arrival  of 
the  passenger  train. 

George  began  to  grow  restless,  as  the  minutes 
passed  and  no  train  appeared.  At  last,  with  the 
permission  of  Andrews,  he  jumped  from  the  cab, 
and  walked  over  to  the  platform,  Waggie  follow- 
ing close  at  his  heels.  He  looked  anxiously  up 
the  track,  but  he  could  see  nothing,  hear  noth- 
ing. 

Two  young  men,  one  of  them  a  civilian  and 
the  other  evidently  a  soldier  who  was  home  on 
furlough  (to  judge  by  his  gray  uniform  and 
right  arm  in  a  sling),  were  promenading  up  and 
down,  and  smoking  clay  pipes. 

"I  don't  understand  it,"  the  soldier  was  saying. 
"They  talk  about  sending  powder  through  to 


158  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

General  Beauregard,  but  it's  an  utter  impossibil- 
ity to  do  it." 

"  You're  right,"  said  his  friend.  "  The  thing 
looks  fishy.  If  these  fellows  are  really  what 
they " 

"  Hush,"  whispered  the  soldier.  He  pointed 
to  George  as  he  spoke.  "  Well,  you're  beginning 
railroading  pretty  young,"  he  added  aloud,  scru- 
tinizing the  boy  as  if  he  would  like  to  read  his 
inmost  thoughts. 

"  It's  never  too  young  to  begin,"  answered  the 
boy,  carelessly. 

"What  is  this  powder  train  of  yours,  any- 
way ? "  asked  the  soldier,  in  a  wheedling 
voice  which  was  meant  to  be  plausible  and 
friendly. 

George  had  heard  enough  of  the  conversation 
between  the  two  young  Southerners  to  know  that 
they  were  more  than  curious  about  the  supposed 
powder  train.  And  now,  he  thought,  they  would 
try  to  entrap  him  into  some  damaging  admission. 
He  must  be  on  his  guard.  He  put  on  as  stupid  a 
look  as  he  could  assume  (which  was  no  easy  task 
in  the  case  of  a  boy  with  such  intelligent  fea- 
tures), as  he  replied  stolidly :     "  Dunno.     I've 


An  Unpleasant  Surprise  159 

nothing  to  do  with  it.  I'm  only  fireman  on  the 
engine." 

"But  you  know  where  you're  going?"  de- 
manded the  soldier,  with  a  gesture  of  impatience. 

"  Dunno." 

"  Who  is  the  tall  chap  with  the  beard  who  has 
charge  of  the  train  ?  " 

"  Dunno." 

"  How  much  powder  have  you  got  on  board  ?  " 

«  Dunno." 

"I  don't  suppose  you  even  know  your  own 
name,  you  little  idiot !  "  cried  the  soldier.  "  The 
boy  hasn't  got  good  sense,"  he  said,  turning  to 
his  friend. 

"  You  were  never  more  mistaken  in  your  life,'* 
answered  his  friend.  "He's  only  playing  a 
game.  I  know  something  about  faces — and  this 
boy  here  has  lots  of  sense." 

George  called  Waggie,  put  the  animal  in  his 
pocket,  and  walked  to  the  door  of  the  little  sta- 
tion without  taking  any  notice  of  this  compli- 
ment to  his  sagacity.  Under  the  circumstances 
he  should  have  preferred  the  deepest  insult.  He 
felt  that  a  long  detention  at  Adairsville  would  bo 
dangerous,  perhaps  fatal. 


i6o  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

Opening  the  door,  the  boy  entered  the  station. 
It  comprised  a  cheerless  waiting-room,  with  a 
stove,  bench  and  water-cooler  for  furniture,  and 
a  little  ticket  oflBce  at  one  end.  The  ticket  office 
was  occupied  by  the  station-agent;  who  was  near 
the  keyboard  of  the  telegraph  wire ;  otherwise 
the  interior  of  the  building  was  empty. 

"  Heard  anything  from  the  passenger  yet  ?  " 
asked  George,  as  he  walked  unconcernedly  into 
the  ticket  oflBce. 

"  Just  wait  a  second,"  said  the  man,  his  right 
hand  playing  on  the  board ;  "  I'm  telegraphing 
up  the  line  to  Calhoun  to  find  out  where  she  is. 
The  wires  aren't  working  to  the  south,  somehow, 
but  they're  all  right  to  the  north." 

Click,  click,  went  the  instrument.  George  re- 
turned leisurely  to  the  doorway  of  the  waiting- 
room.  He  was  just  in  time  to  hear  the  young 
soldier  say  to  his  friend  :  "  If  these  fellows  try  to 
get  away  from  here,  just  let  'em  go.  I'll  send  a 
telegram  up  the  road  giving  warning  that  they 
are  coming,  and  should  be  stopped  as  a  suspicious 
party.  If  they  don't  find  themselves  in  hot 
water  by  the  time  they  get  to  Dalton  I'm  a 
bigger  fool  than  I  think  I  am." 


An  Unpleasant  Surprise  161 

George  stood  stock  still.  Here  was  danger 
indeed !  He  knew  that  to  send  a  telegram  up  the 
road  would  be  but  the  work  of  a  minute  ;  it  could 
go  over  the  wires  to  the  north  before  the 
"  special "  had  pulled  away  from  Adairs- 
ville. 

At  this  moment  the  station-agent  came  out  of 
his  office.  "  The  passenger  is  behind  time,"  he 
said,  and  he  ran  quickly  across  the  tracks  to 
speak  to  Andrews,  who  was  looking  anxiously 
out  from  the  cab  of  "  The  General." 

"It's  now  or  never,"  thought  George.  He 
turned  back  into  the  deserted  waiting-room, 
entered  the  ticket-office,  and  pulled  from  the 
belt  under  his  inner  coat  a  large  revolver — the 
weapon  which  he  carried  in  case  self-defense  be- 
came necessary.  Taking  the  barrel  of  the  re- 
volver, he  tried  to  pry  up  the  telegraphic  key- 
board from  the  table  to  which  it  was  attached. 
But  he  found  this  impossible  to  accomplish ;  he 
could  secure  no  leverage  on  the  instrument.  He 
was  not  to  be  thwarted,  however ;  so  changing 
his  tactics,  he  took  the  barrel  in  his  hand  and 
began  to  rain  heavy  blows  upon  the  keys,  with 
the  butt   end.     In   less   time   than   it   takes   to 


l62  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

describe  the  episode,  the  instrument  had  been 
rendered  totally  useless. 

"  There,"  he  said  to  himself,  with  the  air  of  a 
conqueror,  "it  will  take  time  to  repair  that 
damage,  or  to  send  a  telegram."  He  was  about 
to  leave  the  office  when  he  discovered  a  portable 
battery  under  the  table.  It  was  an  instrument 
that  could  be  attached  to  a  wire,  in  case  of 
emergency.  George  hastily  picked  it  up,  and 
hurried  into  the  waiting-room.  It  would  never 
do  to  leave  this  battery  behind  in  the  office ;  but 
how  could  he  take  it  away  without  being  caught 
in  the  act  ?  His  eyes  wandered  here  and  there, 
until  they  rested  upon  the  stove.  There  was  no 
fire  in  it.  An  inspiration  came  to  him.  He 
opened  the  iron  door,  which  was  large,  and  threw 
the  battery  into  the  stove.  Then  he  closed  the 
door,  and  sauntered  carelessly  out  to  the  plat- 
form. The  soldier  and  his  friend  were  now 
standing  at  some  distance  from  the  station,  on  a 
sidewalk  in  front  of  a  grocery  store.  They  were 
engaged  in  earnest  conversation.  Over  on  the 
side-track,  where  "  The  General "  stood,  the 
station-agent  was  talking  to  Andrews.  George 
joined  his  leader,  and  sprang  into  the  cab. 


An  Unpleasant  Surprise  163 

"From  what  I  hear,"  said  Andrews,  "the 
passenger  train  is  so  much  behind  time  that  if  I 
make  fast  time  I  can  get  to  Calhoun  before  it 
arrives  there,  and  wait  on  a  siding  for  it  to  pass  us." 

"Then  why  don't  you  move  on,"  urged 
George,  who  happened  to  know  how  desirable  it 
was  to  get  away,  but  dared  not  drop  any  hint  to 
his  leader  in  the  presence  of  the  station-agent. 

"  You're  taking  a  risk,"  said  the  station-agent. 
"  You  may  strike  the  train  before  you  reach  Cal- 
houn." He  was  evidently  not  suspicious,  but  he 
feared  an  accident. 

"If  I  meet  the  train  before  we  reach  Cal- 
houn," cried  Andrews,  striking  his  fist  against 
the  window-ledge  of  the  cab,  "  why  then  she 
must  back  till  she  gets  a  side-track,  and  then  we 
will  pass  her." 

He  turned  and  looked  at  his  engineer  and  the 
assistant. 

"  Are  you  ready  to  go,  boys  ? "  he  asked. 
They  quickly  nodded  assent ;  they  longed  to  be 
off  again. 

"  Then  go  ahead ! "  ordered  Andrews.  "  A 
government  special  must  not  be  detained  by  any 
other  train  on  the  road  I " 


164  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

"  The  General "  was  away  once  more.  George 
began  to  explain  to  Andrews  what  he  had  heard 
at  the  station,  and  how  he  had  disabled  the  tele- 
graph. 

"You're  a  brick!"  cried  the  leader,  patting 
the  boy  approvingly  on  the  shoulder ;  "  and  you 
have  saved  us  from  another  scrape.  But  'tis 
better  to  provide  against  any  repairing  of  the 
telegraph — and  the  sooner  we  cut  a  wire  and 
obstruct  the  track,  the  better  for  us." 

Thus  it  happened  that  before  the  train  had 
gone  more  than  three  miles  "  The  General "  was 
stopped,  more  wires  were  cut,  and  several  cross- 
ties  were  thrown  on  the  track  in  the  rear.  Then 
the  train  dashed  on,  this  time  at  a  terrific  speed. 
Andrews  hoped  to  reach  Calhoun,  seven  miles 
away,  before  the  passenger  should  arrive  there. 
It  was  all  that  George  could  do  to  keep  his 
balance,  particularly  when  he  was  called  upon  to 
feed  the  engine  fire  with  wood  from  the  tender. 
Once  Waggie,  who  showed  a  sudden  disposition 
to  see  what  was  going  on  around  him,  and  tried 
to  crawl  out  from  his  master's  pocket,  came  very 
near  being  hurled  out  of  the  engine.  Curves  and 
up  grades  seemed  all  alike  to  "  The  General " ; 


An  Unpleasant  Surprise  165 

the  noble  steed  never  slackened  its  pace  for  an 
instant.  The  engineer  was  keeping  his  eyes  on 
a  point  way  up  the  line,  so  that  he  might  slow 
up  if  he  saw  any  sign  of  the  passenger;  the 
assistant  sounded  the  whistle  so  incessantly  that 
George  thought  his  head  would  split  from  the 
noise.  Once,  at  a  road  crossing,  they  whirled  by 
a  farm  wagon  containing  four  men.  The  boy 
had  a  vision  of  four  mouths  opened  very  wide. 
In  a  second  wagon  and  occupants  were  left  far 
behind. 

In  a  space  of  time  which  seemed  incredibly 
short  Calhoun  was  reached.  Down  went  the 
brakes  and  "  The  General "  slid  into  the  station 
to  find  directly  in  front,  on  the  same  track,  the 
long-expected  passenger  train. 

"  There  she  is ! "  cried  Andrews  ;  "  and  not 
before  it's  time  !  " 

It  was  only  by  the  most  strenuous  efforts 
that  the  engineer  could  keep  "  The  General " 
from  colliding  with  the  locomotive  of  the  oppo- 
sing train.  When  he  brought  his  obedient  iron- 
horse  to  a  standstill  there  was  only  the  distance 
of  a  foot  between  the  cowcatchers  of  the  two 
engines.     The  engineer  of  the  passenger  train 


i66  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

leaned  from  his  cab  and  began  to  indulge  in  im- 
polite language.  "  What  d'ye  mean,"  he  shouted, 
"  by  trying  to  run  me  down  ?  "  And  he  added 
some  expressions  which  would  not  have  passed 
muster  in  cultivated  society. 

"  Clear  the  road  !  Clear  the  road ! "  roared 
Andrews.  "  This  powder  train  must  go  through 
to  General  Beauregard  at  once  !  We  can't  stay 
here  a  minute ! " 

These  words  acted  like  a  charm.  The  passen- 
ger train  was  backed  to  a  siding,  and  "The 
General "  and  its  burden  were  soon  running  out 
of  Calhoun. 

"  No  more  trains  !  "  said  Andrews.  His  voice 
was  husky  ;  the  perspiration  was  streaming  from 
his  face.  "  Now  for  a  little  bridge  burning. 
There's  a  bridge  a  short  distance  up  the  road, 
across  the  Oostenaula  Eiver,  where  we  can  begin 
the  real  business  of  the  day.  But  before  we  get 
to  it  let  us  stop  '  The  General '  and  see  what 
condition  he  is  in." 

"He  has  behaved  like  a  gentleman,  so  far," 
said  the  engineer.  "He  must  be  in  sympathy 
with  us  Northerners." 

"  Slow   up ! "    ordered    Andrews.     "  The    old 


An  Unpleasant  Surprise  167 

fellow  is  beginning  to  wheeze  a  little  bit ;  I  can 
tell  that  he  needs  oiling." 

Obedient  to  the  command,  the  engineer 
brought  "  The  General  "  to  a  halt.  As  the  men 
came  running  from  the  baggage  car,  Andrews 
ordered  them  to  take  up  another  rail. 

"  It's  good  exercise,  boys,"  he  laughed,  "  even 
if  it  may  not  be  actually  necessary." 

Then  he  helped  his  engineers  to  inspect 
"The  General."  The  engine  was  still  in  ex- 
cellent condition,  although  the  wood  and  water 
were  running  a  little  low.  It  received  a  quick 
oiling,  while  George  climbed  up  a  telegraph  pole 
and  severed  a  wire  in  the  manner  heretofore 
described.  Eight  of  the  party  were  pulling  at  a 
rail,  one  end  of  which  was  loose  and  the  other 
still  fastened  to  the  cross-ties  by  spikes. 

Suddenly,  away  to  the  southward,  came  the 
whistle  of  an  engine.  Had  a  thunderbolt  de- 
scended upon  the  men,  the  effect  could  not  have 
been  more  startling.  The  workers  at  the  rail 
tore  it  away  from  the  track,  in  their  wild  excite- 
ment, and,  losing  their  balance,  fell  headlong 
down  the  side  of  the  embankment  on  which  they 
had   been   standing.     They   were  up   again  the 


i68  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

next  instant,  unhurt,  but  eager  to  know  the 
meaning  of  the  whistle. 

Was  there  an  engine  in  pursuit?  Andrews 
looked  down  the  track. 

"  See  ! "  he  cried. 

There  was  something  to  gaze  at.  Less  than  a 
mile  away  a  large  locomotive,  which  was  re- 
versed so  that  the  tender  came  first,  was  running 
rapidly  up  the  line,  each  instant  approaching 
nearer  and  nearer  to  the  fugitives.  In  the 
tender  stood  men  who  seemed  to  be  armed  with 
muskets. 

"  They  are  after  us,"  said  Andrews.  "  There's 
no  doubt  about  it."  He  was  very  calm  now ;  he 
spoke  as  if  he  were  discussing  the  most  common- 
place matter  in  the  world. 

His  companions  crowded  around  him. 

"  Let  us  stand  and  fight  them  !  "  cried  "Watson. 

"  Yes,"  urged  Jenks,  who  had  forgotten  all 
about  his  sore  back ;  "  we  can  make  a  stand 
here ! " 

Andrews  shook  his  head.  "Better  go  on, 
boys,"  he  answered.  "  We  have  taken  out  this 
rail,  and  that  will  delay  them.  In  the  meantime 
we  can  go  on  to  the  Oostenaula  bridge  and  burn  it." 


An  Unpleasant  Surprise  169 

There  was  no  time  for  discussion.  The  men 
yielded  their  usual  assent  to  the  orders  of  their 
chief.  They  quickly  scrambled  back  into  the 
train,  to  their  respective  posts,  and  Andrews 
gave  the  signal  for  departure. 

"  Push  the  engine  for  all  it's  worth ! "  he  com- 
manded ;  "  we  must  make  the  bridge  before  the 
enemy  are  on  us."  The  engineer  set  "  The 
General "  going  at  a  rattling  pace. 

"  How  on  earth  could  we  be  pursued,  after  the 
way  we  cut  the  wires  along  the  line,"  muttered 
the  leader.  "  Can  the  enemy  have  telegraphed 
from  Big  Shanty  to  Kingston  by  some  circuitous 
route  ?     I  don't  understand." 

"  Are  you  making  full  speed  ?  "  he  asked  the 
engineer,  a  second  later. 

"The  old  horse  is  doing  his  best,"  answered 
the  man,  "but  the  wood  is  getting  precious 
low." 

"  George,  pour  some  engine  oil  into  the  fur- 
nace." 

The  boy  seized  the  oil  can,  and  obej'^ed  the 
order.  The  speed  of  "  The  General "  increased ; 
the  engine  seemed  to  spring  forward  like  a  horse 
to  which  the  spur  has  been  applied. 


lyo  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

"  That's  better,"  said  Andrews.  "  Now  if  we 
can  only  burn  that  bridge  before  the  enemy  are 
up  to  us,  there  is  still  a  chance  for  success — and 
life !  "  His  voice  sank  almost  to  a  whisper  as  he 
uttered  the  last  word.  "With  a  strange,  inde- 
scribable sensation,  George  suddenly  realized 
how  near  they  all  were  to  disaster,  even  to  death. 
He  thought  of  his  father,  and  then  he  thought  of 
W aggie,  and  wondered  what  was  to  become  of 
the  little  dog.  The  boy  was  cool;  he  had  no 
sense  of  fear ;  it  seemed  as  if  he  were  figuring  in 
some  curious  dream. 

Suddenly  Andrews  left  the  engine,  lurched 
into  the  tender,  and  began  to  climb  out  of  it,  and 
thence  to  the  platform  of  the  first  baggage  car. 
George  looked  back  at  him  in  dread ;  surely  the 
leader  would  be  hurled  from  the  flying  train  and 
killed.  But  he  reached  the  car  in  safety  and 
opened  the  door.  He  shouted  out  an  order 
which  George  could  not  hear,  so  great  was  the 
rattle  of  the  train ;  then  he  made  his  way,  with 
the  ease  of  a  sure-footed  chamois,  back  to  "  The 
General."  He  had  ordered  the  men  in  the  car 
to  split  up  part  of  its  sides  for  kindling-wood. 
By  the  use  of  the  cross-ties,  which  they  had 


An  Unpleasant  Surprise  171 

picked  up  along  the  road,  they  battered  down 
some  of  the  planking  of  the  walls,  and  quickly- 
reduced  it  to  smaller  pieces.  It  was  a  thrilling 
sight.  The  men  worked  as  they  had  never 
worked  before.  It  was  at  the  imminent  risk  of 
falling  out,  however,  and  as  the  train  swung 
along  over  the  track  it  seemed  a  miracle  that 
none  of  them  went  flying  through  the  open  sides 
of  the  now  devastated  car. 

On  rushed  "  The  General."  As  it  turned  a 
curve  George,  who  was  now  in  the  tender, 
glanced  back  to  his  right  and  saw — the  pursuing 
engine  less  than  a  mile  behind. 

"  They  are  after  us  again ! "  he  shouted. 
"  They  have  gotten  past  the  broken  rail  some- 
how," he  said.  "  They  must  have  track  repair- 
ing instruments  on  board." 

Andrews  set  his  lips  firmly  together  like  a  man 
who  determines  to  fight  to  the  last. 

George  made  his  way  back  to  the  cab.  "  "Will 
we  have  time  to  burn  the  bridge  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  "We  must  wait  and  see,"  answered  the  leader, 
as  he  once  more  left  the  engine  and  finally 
reached  the  despoiled  baggage  car.  He  said 
something  to  Jeuks ;  then  he  returned  to  the  cab. 


172  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do  ?  "  anxiously  asked 
the  boy.  He  could  hear  the  shrill  whistle  of  the 
pursuing  locomotive.  "  Com-ing  I  Com-ing !  " 
it  seemed  to  say  to  his  overwrought  imagination. 

Andrews  made  no  answer  to  George  ;  instead 
he  shouted  a  command  to  the  engineer:  "Ke- 
verse  your  engine,  and  move  backwards  at  full 
speed ! " 

The  engineer,  without  asking  any  questions, 
did  as  he  was  told.  Jenks  ran  through  to  the 
second  car  and  contrived,  after  some  delay  caused 
by  the  roughness  of  the  motion,  to  uncouple  it 
from  the  third.  This  last  car  was  now  entirely 
loose  from  the  train,  and  would  have  been  left 
behind  had  it  not  been  that  the  engine  had  al- 
ready begun  to  go  back.  Faster  and  faster 
moved  "  The  General "  to  the  rear. 

"  Go  forward  again,"  finally  ordered  Andrews. 
The  engine  slowly  came  to  a  standstill,  and  then 
plunged  forward  once  more.  Now  George  could 
see  the  meaning  of  this  manoeuvre.  The  third 
car,  being  uncoupled,  went  running  back  towards 
the  enemy's  tender.  Andrews  hoped  to  effect  a 
collision. 

But  the  engineer  of  the  pursuing  locomotive 


An  Unpleasant  Surprise  173 

was  evidently  ready  for  such  an  emergency.  He 
reversed  his  engine,  and  was  soon  running  back- 
wards. When  the  baggage  car  struck  the  tender 
no  harm  was  done ;  the  shock  must  have  been 
very  slight.  In  another  minute  the  enemy's  en- 
gine was  puffing  onward  again  in  the  wake  of 
the  fugitives,  while  the  car  was  being  pushed 
along  in  front  of  the  tender. 

"  That  didn't  work  very  well,"  said  Andrews, 
placidly.     "  Let's  try  them  again." 

Once  more  "The  General"  was  reversed. 
This  time  the  second  car  was  uncoupled  and 
sent  flying  back.  "The  General"  was  now 
hauling  only  the  tender  and  the  one  baggage  car 
in  which  the  majority  of  the  members  of  the 
party  were  confined.  The  second  attempt,  how- 
ever, met  with  no  better  result  than  the  first : 
the  enemy  pursued  the  same  tactics  as  before ; 
reversing  the  locomotive,  and  avoiding  a  serious 
collision.  It  now  started  anew  on  the  pursuit, 
pushing  the  two  unattached  cars  ahead  of  it,  ap- 
parently little  hampered  as  to  speed  by  the  in- 
cumbrance. And  now,  unfortunately  enough, 
the  bridge  was  in  plain  view,  only  a  few  hundred 
yards  ahead.     As  the  enemy  turned  a  new  curve 


174  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

George  caught  a  view  of  the  tender.  A  dozen 
men,  armed  with  rifles,  were  standing  up  in  it ; 
he  could  see  the  gleam  of  the  rifle  barrels. 

"More  oil,"  ordered  Andrews.  The  boy 
seized  the  can,  and  poured  some  more  of  the 
greasy  liquid  into  the  fiery  furnace.  He  knew 
that  the  wood  was  almost  exhausted,  and  that  it 
would  soon  be  impossible  to  hold  the  present  rate 
of  progress.  Oh,  if  there  only  would  be  time  to 
burn  the  bridge,  and  thus  check  the  pursuers ! 
But  he  saw  that  he  was  hoping  for  the  imprac- 
ticable. 

"Shall  we  stop  on  the  bridge?"  asked  the 
engineer,  in  a  hoarse  voice. 

"It's  too  late,"  answered  Andrews.  "Keep 
her  flying." 

Over  the  bridge  went  the  engine,  with  the 
pursuers  only  a  short  distance  behind. 

"  Let  us  have  some  of  that  kindling-wood  for 
the  furnace,"  shouted  Andrews  to  the  men  in  the 
baggage  car.  The  men  began  to  pitch  wood 
from  the  door  of  the  car  into  the  tender,  and 
George  transferred  some  of  it  to  the  furnace. 

"  That's  better,"  cried  the  engineer.  "  We 
need  wood  more  than  we  need  a  kingdom ! " 


An  Unpleasant  Surprise  175 

"Throw  out  some  of  those  cross-ties,"  thun- 
dered the  leader.  The  men  dropped  a  tie  here 
and  there  on  the  track,  so  that  a  temporary 
obstruction  might  be  presented  to  the  pursuing 
locomotive. 

"That's  some  help,"  said  Andrews,  as  he 
craned  his  neck  out  of  the  cab  window  and 
looked  back  along  the  line.  "Those  ties  will 
make  them  stop  a  while,  any  way."  In  fact  the 
enemy  had  already  stopped  upon  encountering 
the  first  log;  two  men  from  the  tender  were 
moving  it  from  the  track. 

"  We've  a  good  fighting  chance  yet,"  cried 
Andrews,  whose  enthusiasm  had  suddenly  re- 
turned. "  If  we  can  burn  another  bridge,  and 
block  these  fellows,  the  day  is  ours  ! " 

"  The  water  in  the  boiler  is  almost  gone ! "  an- 
nounced the  engineer. 

George's  heart  sank.  What  meant  all  the 
wood  in  the  world  without  a  good  supply  of 
water?  But  Andrews  was  equal  to  the  emer- 
gency. "  Can  you  hold  out  for  another  mile  or 
so  ?  "  he  asked. 

"Just  about  that,  and  no  more,"  came  the 
answer. 


176  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

"  All  right.  We  are  about  to  run  by  Tilton  sta- 
tion. A  little  beyond  that,  if  I  remember  rightly, 
is  a  water  tank."  Andrews,  in  his  capacity  as 
a  spy  within  the  Southern  lines,  knew  Georgia 
well,  and  had  frequently  traveled  over  this 
particular  railroad.  It  was  his  acquaintance 
with  the  line,  indeed,  that  had  enabled  him  to 
get  through  thus  far  without  failure. 

Past  Tilton  ran  "  The  General,"  as  it  nearly 
swept  two  frightened  rustics  from  the  platform. 
Then  the  engine  began  to  slow  up,  until  it  finally 
rested  at  the  water  tank. 

"I  was  right,"  said  Andrews.  He  leaped 
from  the  cab,  and  gazed  down  the  line.  "  The 
enemy  is  not  in  sight  now,"  he  cried.  "  Those 
ties  are  giving  them  trouble.  Put  some  more  on 
the  track,  boys.  George,  try  some  more  wire- 
cutting.     Brown,  get  your  boiler  filled." 

In  an  incredibly  short  space  of  time  the 
telegraph  wire  had  been  cut,  the  engine  was 
provided  with  water,  and  some  more  ties  had 
been  placed  upon  the  track  in  the  rear.  "What  a 
curious  scene  the  party  presented ;  how  tired, 
and  dirty,  yet  how  courageous  they  all  looked. 

"  Shall  we  take  up  a  rail  ?  "  demanded  Mao- 


An  Unpleasant  Surprise  177 

greggor.  Scarcely  had  the  words  left  his  lips 
before  the  whistle  of  the  enemy  was  again 
heard. 

"No  time,"  shouted  the  leader.  "Let's  be 
off!" 

Off  went  the  train — the  grimy,  panting  engine, 
the  tender,  and  the  one  baggage  car,  which  was 
now  literally  torn  to  pieces  in  the  frantic  en- 
deavor to  provide  kindling-wood. 

"  We  want  more  wood,"  George  shouted  back 
to  the  men  after  they  had  proceeded  a  couple  of 
miles.  Some  wood  was  thrown  into  the  tender 
from  the  baggage  car,  with  the  gloomy  news : 
"  This  is  all  we  have  left !  " 

"  No  more  wood  after  this,"  explained  George. 

"All  right,"  answered  Andrews,  very  cheer- 
fully. "  Tell  them  to  throw  out  a  few  more  ties 
on  the  track — as  long  as  they're  too  big  to  burn 
in  our  furnace." 

The  order  was  shouted  back  to  the  car.  It 
was  instantly  obeyed.  There  was  now  another 
obstruction  for  the  enemy ;  but  George  wondered 
how  Andrews,  full  of  resources  though  he  might 
be,  would  find  more  wood  for  the  engine.  But 
Andrews  was  equal  even  to  this. 


ly^  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

"  Stop ! "  cried  the  leader,  after  they  had  passed 
up  the  line  about  a  mile  from  where  the  ties  had 
been  last  thrown  out.  "The  General "  was  soon 
motionless,  breathing  and  quivering  like  some 
blooded  horse  which  had  been  suddenly  reined  in 
during  a  race. 

"Here's  more  work  for  you,  boys,"  cried 
Andrews.  He  was  already  on  the  ground,  point- 
ing to  the  wooden  fences  which  encompassed  the 
fields  on  both  sides  of  the  track.  The  men 
needed  no  further  prompting.  In  less  than  three 
minutes  a  large  number  of  rails  were  reposing  in 
the  tender.  George  regarded  them  with  an  ex- 
pression of  professional  pride,  as  befitted  the 
fireman  of  the  train. 

"  Xo  trouble  about  wood  or  water  now,"  he 
said,  as  "  The  General "  tore  onward  again. 

"  No,"  replied  the  leader.  "  We  will  beat  those 
Southerners  yet ! "  He  positively  refused  to 
think  of  failure  at  this  late  stage  of  the  game. 
Yet  it  was  a  game  that  did  not  seem  to  promise 
certain  success. 

Thus  the  race  continued,  with  "The  General" 
sometimes  rocking  and  reeling  like  a  drunken 
man.      On    they   rushed,    past    small    stations, 


An  Unpleasant  Surprise  179 

swinging  around  curves  with  the  men  in  the  car 
sitting  on  the  floor  and  clinging  to  one  another 
for  fear  they  would  be  knocked  out  by  the 
roughness  of  the  motion.  As  George  thought  of 
this  terrible  journey  in  after  years  he  wondered 
why  it  was  that  engine,  car  and  passengers  were 
not  hurled  headlong  from  the  track. 

"  We  are  coming  to  Dalton,"  suddenly  an- 
nounced Andrews.  Dalton  was  a  good-sized 
town  twenty-two  miles  above  Calhoun,  and 
formed  a  junction  with  the  line  running  to 
Cleveland,  Tennessee. 

"  "We  must  be  careful  here,"  said  Andrews, 
"  for  we  don't  know  who  may  be  waiting  to  re- 
ceive us.  If  a  telegram  was  sent  via  the  coast 
up  to  Richmond,  and  then  down  to  Dalton,  our 
real  character  may  be  known.  Brown,  be  ready 
to  reverse  your  engine  if  I  give  the  signal — then 
we'll  back  out  of  the  town,  abandon  the  train, 
and  take  to  the  open  fields." 

George  wondered  if,  by  doing  this,  they  would 
not  fall  into  the  hands  of  their  pursuers.  But 
there  was  no  chance  for  argument. 

The  speed  of  "  The  General "  was  now  slack- 
ened, so  that  the  engine  approached  the  station 


l8o  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

at  a  rate  of  not  more  than  fifteen  miles  an  hour. 
Andrews  saw  nothing  unusual  on  the  platform  ; 
no  soldiers ;  no  preparations  for  arrest. 

"  Go  ahead,"  he  said,  "  and  stop  at  the  plat- 
form.    The  coast's  clear  so  far." 

It  was  necessary  that  a  stop  should  be  made  at 
Dalton  for  the  reason  that  there  were  switches 
at  this  point,  owing  to  the  junction  of  the  Cleve- 
land line,  and  it  would  be  impossible  to  run  by 
the  station  without  risking  a  bad  accident.  It 
was  necessary,  furthermore,  that  this  stop  should 
be  as  brief  as  possible,  for  the  dilapidated  looks 
of  the  broken  baggage  car  and  the  general  ap- 
pearance of  the  party  were  such  as  to  invite  sus- 
picion upon  too  close  a  scrutiny.  Then,  worse  still, 
the  enemy  might  arrive  at  any  moment.  Andrews 
was  again  equal  to  the  occasion.  As  the  forlorn 
train  drew  up  at  the  station  he  assumed  the  air 
and  bearing  of  a  major-general,  told  some  plaus- 
ible story  about  being  on  his  way  with  dispatches 
for  Beauregard,  and  ordered  that  the  switches 
should  be  immediately  changed  so  that  he  could 
continue  on  to  Chattanooga.  Once  again  did  his 
confident  manner  hoodwink  the  railroad  officials. 
The  switch  was  changed,  and  "The  General" 


An  Unpleasant  Surprise  181 

was  quickly  steaming  out  of  Dalton.  The  citi- 
zens on  the  platform  looked  after  the  party  as  if 
they  could  not  quite  understand  what  the  whole 
thing  meant. 

"  Shall  we  cut  a  wire  ?  "  asked  George. 

"What  is  the  good?"  returned  Andrews. 
"The  enemy's  engine  will  reach  Dalton  in  a 
minute  or  two — perhaps  they  are  there  now — 
and  they  can  telegraph  on  to  Chattanooga  by 
way  of  the  wires  on  the  Cleveland  line.  It's  a 
roundabout  way,  but  it  will  answer  their  pur- 
pose just  as  well." 

"  Then  we  dare  not  keep  on  to  Chattanooga  ?  " 
asked  George,  in  a  tone  of  keen  regret.  He  had 
fondly  pictured  a  triumphant  run  through  Chat- 
tanooga, and  an  ultimate  meeting  with  the 
forces  of  Mitchell  somewhere  to  the  westward, 
accompanied  by  the  applause  of  the  troops  and 
many  kind  words  from  the  General. 

"  Not  now,"  answered  the  leader.  "  "We  may 
yet  burn  a  bridge  or  two,  and  then  take  to  the 
woods.  It  would  be  folly  to  enter  Chattanooga 
only  to  be  caught." 

At  last  Andrews  saw  that  he  must  change  his 
plans.     He  had  hoped,  by  burning  a  bridge,  to 


i82  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

head  off  the  pursuing  engine  before  now ;  his 
failure  to  do  this,  and  the  complication  caused  by 
the  telegraph  line  to  Cleveland,  told  him  that  he 
must  come  to  a  halt  before  reaching  Chatta- 
nooga. To  run  into  that  city  would  be  to  jump 
deliberately  into  the  lion's  mouth. 

"  Let  us  see  if  there's  time  to  break  a  rail," 
suddenly  said  the  leader.  The  train  was  stopped, 
within  sight  of  a  small  camp  of  Confederate 
troops,  and  the  men  started  to  loosen  one  of  the 
rails.  But  hardly  had  they  begun  their  work 
when  there  came  the  hated  whistling  from  the 
pursuing  engine.  The  adventurers  abandoned 
their  attempt,  leaped  to  their  places  in  cab  and 
car,  and  "The  General"  again  sped  onward. 
There  were  no  cross-ties  remaining ;  this  form  of 
obstruction  could  no  longer  be  used.  It  was 
now  raining  hard ;  all  the  fates  seemed  to  be 
combining  against  the  plucky  little  band  of 
Northerners. 

Andrews  began  at  last  to  see  that  the  situation 
was  growing  desperate. 

"There's  still  one  chance,"  he  muttered.  He 
knew  that  he  would  soon  pass  a  bridge,  and  he 
went  on  to  elaborate  in  his  mind  an  ingenious 


An  Unpleasant  Surprise  183 

plan  by  which  the  structure  might  be  burned 
without  making  delay  necessary,  or  risking  a 
meeting  with  the  pursuers.  He  scrambled  his 
way  carefully  back  to  the  baggage  car. 

"  Boys,"  he  said,  "  I  want  you  to  set  fire  to 
this  car,  and  then  all  of  you  crawl  into  the 
tender." 

There  was  a  bustle  in  the  car  at  once,  although 
no  one  asked  a  question.  The  men  made  a  val- 
iant effort  to  ignite  what  was  left  of  the  splint- 
ered walls  and  roof  of  the  car.  But  it  was  hard 
work.  The  rain,  combined  with  the  wind  pro- 
duced by  the  rapid  motion  of  the  train,  made  it 
impossible  to  set  anything  on  fire  even  by  a  very 
plentiful  use  of  matches. 

"We'll  have  to  get  something  better  than 
matches,"  growled  Watson.  He  had  just  been 
saved  from  pitching  out  upon  the  roadside  by  the 
quick  efforts  of  one  of  his  companions,  who  had 
seized  him  around  the  waist  in  the  nick  of  time. 
Andrews  went  to  the  forward  platform  of  the 
car. 

"  Can't  you  get  us  a  piece  of  burning  wood 
over  here,"  he  called  to  George. 

The  lad  took  a  fence  rail  from  the  tender, 


184  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

placed  it  in  the  furnace,  until  one  end  was  blaz- 
ing, and  then  contrived  to  hand  it  to  the  leader 
from  the  rear  of  the  tender.  Andrews  seized  it, 
and  applied  the  firebrand  to  several  places  in  the 
car.  But  it  was  no  easy  task  to  make  a  confla- 
gration ;  it  seemed  as  if  the  rail  would  merely 
smoulder. 

"Stop  the  engine,"  he  ordered.  "The  Gen- 
eral "  was  brought  to  a  halt,  and  then,  when  the 
artificial  wind  had  ceased,  the  rail  flared  up. 
Soon  the  torn  walls  and  roof  of  the  car  burst 
into  flames. 

"  Into  the  tender,  boys,"  cried  Andrews.  The 
men  needed  no  second  bidding.  The  fire  Avas 
already  burning  fiercely  enough,  despite  the  rain, 
to  make  their  surroundings  anything  but  com- 
fortable. They  scrambled  into  the  tender.  The 
engineer  put  his  hand  to  the  lever,  pulled  the 
throttle,  and  the  party  were  again  on  the  wing 
although  at  a  slow  and  constantly  lessening  rate 
of  speed.     At  last  they  scarcely  moved. 

"  The  General "  was  now  passing  over  the 
bridge — a  covered  structure  of  wood.  Andrews 
uncoupled  the  blazing  car,  and  climbed  back  into 
the  tender.     The  engine  again  sped  on,  leaving 


An  Unpleasant  Surprise  185 

the  burning  car  in  the  middle  of  the  bridge.  The 
scheme  of  the  leader  was  apparent ;  he  hoped 
that  the  flames  would  be  communicated  to  the 
roof  of  the  bridge,  and  so  to  the  entire  wood- 
work, including  the  railroad  ties  and  lower 
beams. 

"  At  last ! "  thought  Andrews.  He  w^ould  have 
the  satisfaction  of  destroying  one  bridge  at  least 
— and  he  would  put  an  impassable  barrier  be- 
tween the  enemy  and  himself.  His  joy  was, 
however,  only  too  short  lived.  The  Confederates 
boldly  ran  towards  the  bridge. 

"  They  won't  dare  to  tackle  that  car,"  said 
George,  as  "The  General"  kept  moving  on- 
ward. Yet  the  pursuing  engine,  instead  of 
putting  on  brakes,  glided  through  the  bridge, 
pushing  the  burning  car  in  front  of  it.  When  it 
reached  the  other  side  of  the  stream  the  car  was 
switched  off  on  a  siding,  and  the  enemy  prepared 
to  sweep  onwards.  The  bridge  was  saved ; 
Andrews'  plan  had  failed.  The  Northerners  gave 
groans  of  disappointment  as  they  fled  along  in 
front. 

Finally  it  was  resolved  to  make  a  last  stop, 
and  to  attempt  to  pull  up  a  rail.     The  enemy 


l86  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

was  now  some  distance  behind,  having  been  de- 
layed by  the  time  necessarily  consumed  in  switch- 
ing off  the  car,  so  that  there  seemed  a  reasonable 
chance  of  executing  this  piece  of  strategy. 
When  the  men  had  again  alighted  on  firm 
ground  several  of  them  felt  actually  seasick 
from  the  jolting  of  the  engine  and  tender.  It 
was  now  that  one  of  the  party  made  a  novel  prop- 
osition to  Andrews.  The  plan  seemed  to  have 
a  good  deal  to  recommend  it,  considering  how 
desperate  was  the  present  situation. 

"  Let  us  run  the  engine  on,"  he  said,  "  until  we 
are  out  of  sight  of  the  enemy,  and  are  near  some 
of  the  bushes  which  dot  the  track.  Then  we  can 
tear  up  a  rail,  or  obstruct  the  track  in  some  way, 
and  quickly  hide  ourselves  in  the  bushes.  The 
engineer  will  stay  in  '  The  General,'  and,  as  soon 
as  the  enemy  comes  in  sight,  can  continue  up 
the  road,  just  as  if  we  were  all  on  board.  When 
the  Confederates  reach  the  broken  rail,  and  pre- 
pare to  fix  it,  we  can  all  rush  out  at  them  and 
fire  our  revolvers.  They  will  be  taken  by  sur- 
prise— we  will  have  the  advantage." 

"  That  sounds  logical  enough,"  observed  An- 
drews ;  "  it's  worth  trying,  if " 


An  Unpleasant  Surprise  187 

Again  the  enemy's  whistle  sounded  ominously 
near.  There  was  no  chance  to  argue  about  any- 
thing now.  The  men  leaped  to  their  places, 
and  "  The  General "  was  quickly  gotten  under 
way. 

Watson  looked  at  Jenks,  next  to  whom  he  was 
huddled  in  the  tender. 

"  How  long  is  this  sort  of  thing  to  be  kept 
up?"  he  asked.  "I'd  far  rather  get  out  and 
fight  the  fellows  than  run  along  this  way  !  " 

Jenks  brushed  the  rain  from  his  grimy  face 
but  made  no  answer. 

"  This  all  comes  from  that  fatal  delay  at  Kings- 
ton," announced  Macgreggor.  "We  would  be 
just  an  hour  ahead  if  it  hadn't  been  for  those 
wretched  freight  trains." 

The  enemy's  engine  gave  an  exultant  whistle. 
"  Yic-to-ry  1  Vic-to-ry ! "  it  seemed  to  shriek. 


CHAPTER  VII 

ENERGETIC   PURSUIT 

Who  were  pursuing  the  Northern  adventurers, 
and  how  did  they  learn  the  story  of  the  stolen 
engine  ?  To  answer  these  questions  let  us  go 
back  to  Big  Shanty  at  the  moment  when  the 
train  having  the  conspirators  on  board  reached 
that  station  from  Marietta.  The  conductor, 
William  Fuller,  the  engineer,  Jefferson  Cain, — 
and  Anthony  Murphy,  a  railroad  official  from 
Atlanta,  were  among  those  who  went  into  the 
"  Shanty  "  to  enjoy  breakfast.  They  were  natur- 
ally unsuspicious  of  any  plot;  the  deserted  engine 
seemed  absolutely  secure  as  it  stood  within  very 
sight  of  an  encampment  of  the  Confederate  army. 

Suddenly  Murphy  heard  something  that 
sounded  like  escaping  steam.  "  Why,  some  one 
is  at  your  engine,"  he  cried  to  Fuller,  as  he 
jumped  from  his  seat.  Quick  as  a  flash  Fuller 
ran  to  the  door  of  the  dining-room. 

"  Some  one's  stealing  our  train ! "  he  shouted. 

188 


Energetic  Pursuit  189 

"  Come  on,  Cain !  "  The  passengers  rushed  from 
their  half-tasted  meal  to  the  platform.  The  con- 
ductor began  to  run  up  the  track,  followed  by  his 
two  companions,  as  the  train  moved  rapidly  away. 

"  Jerusha ! "  laughed  one  of  the  passengers,  a 
gouty-looking  old  gentleman ;  "  do  those  fellows 
expect  to  beat  an  engine  that  way  ?  " 

The  crowd  joined  in  the  fun  of  the  thing,  and 
wondered  what  the  whole  scene  could  mean. 
Perhaps  it  was  but  the  prank  of  mischievous 
boys  who  were  intent  on  taking  an  exciting  ride. 

"  What's  up,  anyway  ?  "  asked  Murphy,  as  the 
three  went  skimming  along  on  the  railroad  ties, 
and  the  train  drew  farther  and  farther  away 
from  them. 

"I'll  bet  some  conscripts  have  deserted  from 
camp,"  cried  Fuller.  "  They'll  run  up  the  line  a 
mile  or  two,  then  leave  the  engine  and  escape 
into  the  woods."  He  did  not  imagine,  as  yet, 
that  his  train  was  in  the  hands  of  Northern 
soldiers. 

On,  on,  went  the  trio  until  they  reached  the 
point  where  George  had  cut  the  wire. 

"  Look  here,"  said  Cain ;  "  they've  cut  the 
wire !     And  look  at  the  broken  rail !  '* 


190  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

One  glance  was  sufficient  to  show  that  the  en- 
gine thieves,  whoever  they  might  be,  knew  their 
business  pretty  well.  There  was  something 
more  in  this  affair  than  a  mere  escape  of  con- 
scripts. 

"  Look  up  the  road,"  said  Murphy.  He 
pointed  to  some  workmen  who  had  a  hand-car 
near  the  track,  not  far  above  him.  Hurrying  on, 
the  trio  soon  reached  these  men,  explained  to 
them  what  had  happened,  and  impressed  them 
into  the  service  of  pursuit.  In  two  or  three 
minutes  the  whole  party  were  flying  up  the  line 
on  the  hand-car. 

"Kingston  is  nearly  thirty  miles  away,"  ex- 
plained Fuller,  as  they  bowled  along.  "  I  don't 
know  who  the  fellows  are,  but  they'll  be  blocked 
by  freight  when  they  get  there,  and  we  may 
manage  to  reach  them  somehow."  Even  if  the 
unknown  enemy  got  beyond  Kingston,  he 
thought  he  might  yet  reach  them  if  he  could 
only  find  an  engine.  The  whole  escapade  was  a 
puzzle,  but  the  three  men  were  determined  to 
bring  back  "  The  General." 

Thus  they  swept  anxiously  but  smoothly  on 
until — presto !    The  whole  party  suddenly  leaped 


Energetic  Pursuit  191 

into  the  air,  and  then  descended  into  a  ditch, 
with  the  hand-car  falling  after  them.  They  had 
reached  the  place  where  the  telegraph  pole  ob- 
structed the  track.  They  had  turned  a  sharp 
curve,  and  were  on  it,  before  they  realized  the 
danger. 

"  No  one  hurt,  boys  ?  "  asked  Murphy. 

No  one  was  hurt,  strange  to  say. 

"  Up  with  the  car,"  cried  Fuller.  The  hand- 
car was  lifted  to  the  track,  beyond  the  telegraph 
pole,  and  the  journey  was  resumed, 

"  Shall  we  find  an  engine  here  ? "  thought 
Fuller,  as  the  car  approached  Etowah  station. 

"There  are  iron  furnaces  near  here,"  said 
Murphy,  "  and  I  know  that  an  engine  named 
'  The  Yonah '  has  been  built  to  drag  material 
from  the  station  to  the  furnaces.  It's  one  of  the 
finest  locomotives  in  the  South." 

"I  hope  that  hasn't  been  stolen  too,"  said 
Cain. 

Now  they  were  at  the  station.  They  knew 
that  it  would  be  impossible  to  make  the  neces- 
sary speed  with  a  hand-car.  If  they  were  to 
reach  the  runaways  they  must  obtain  an  engine, 
and  quickly  at  that. 


192  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

"  By  all  that's  lucky,"  shouted  Murphy ; 
«  there's  *  The  Yonah ' !  " 

There,  right  alongside  the  platform,  was  the 
welcome  engine.  It  was  about  to  start  on  a 
trip  to  the  iron  furnaces.  The  steam  was  up; 
the  fire  was  burning  brightly. 

Etowah  was  ablaze  with  excitement  as  soon 
as  the  pursuers  explained  what  had  hap- 
pened. 

"  I  must  have  '  The  Yonah,' "  cried  Fuller, 
"  and  I  want  some  armed  men  to  go  along  with 
me ! "  No  question  now  about  seizing  the 
engine ;  no  question  as  to  the  armed  men.  "With 
hardly  any  delay  Fuller  was  steaming  to  the 
northward  with  "The  Yonah,"  and  the  tender 
was  crowded  with  plucky  Southerners  carrying 
loaded  rifles.  The  speed  of  the  engine  was  at 
the  rate  of  a  mile  a  minute,  and  how  it  did  fly, 
to  be  sure.  Yet  it  seemed  as  if  Kingston  would 
never  be  reached. 

When,  at  last,  they  did  glide  up  to  the  station, 
Fuller  learned  that  the  alleged  Confederate  train 
bearing  powder  to  General  Beauregard  had  left 
but  a  few  minutes  before.  Great  was  the  amaze- 
ment when  he  announced  that  the  story  of  the 


Fuller  was  Steaming  to  the  Northward  with   "The  Yonah" 


Energetic  Pursuit  193 

leader  was  all  a  blind,  invented  to  cover  up  one 
of  the  boldest  escapades  of  the  war. 

But  now  Fuller  was  obliged  to  leave  the  faith- 
ful "  Yonah,"  The  blockade  of  trains  at  King- 
ston was  such  that  it  would  have  required  some 
time  before  the  engine  could  get  through  an}'^ 
farther  on  the  main  track.  He  seized  another 
engine,  which  could  quickly  be  given  the  right 
of  way,  and  rushed  forward.  Two  cars  were 
attached  to  the  tender  ;  in  it  were  more  armed 
men,  hastily  recruited  at  Kingston.  They  were 
ready  for  desperate  work. 

" '  The  Yonah '  was  a  better  engine  than  this 
one,"  said  Murphy,  regretfully,  before  they  had 
run  more  than  two  or  three  miles.  He  spoke  the 
truth  ;  the  new  engine  had  not  the  speed  of  "  The 
Yonah."    The  difference  was  quite  apparent. 

"  We  must  do  the  best  we  can  with  her,"  said 
Fuller.  "  Put  a  little  engine  oil  into  the  furnace. 
We'll  give  her  a  gentle  stimulant." 

His  order  was  promptly  obeyed,  but  the  loco- 
motive could  not  be  made  to  go  faster  than  at 
the  rate  of  forty  miles  an  hour.  Murphy  and 
Cain  were  both  at  the  lever,  keeping  their  eyes 
fixed  as  far  up  the  line  as  possible,  so  that  they 


194  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

might  stop  the  train  in  good  time  should  they 
see  any  obstruction  on  the  track.  Thus  they 
jogged  along  for  some  miles  until  the  two  men 
made  a  simultaneous  exclamation,  and  reversed 
the  engine.  In  front  of  them,  not  more  tlian  a 
hundred  yards  away,  was  a  large  gap  in  the 
track.  It  marked  the  place  where  the  North- 
erners had  taken  up  the  rails  south  of  Adairs- 
ville. 

"  Jupiter !  That  was  a  close  shave !  "  cried 
Murphy.  For  the  train  had  been  halted  within 
less  than  five  feet  of  the  break.  Out  jumped  the 
whole  party.  Fuller,  Cain  and  Murphy  from  the 
cab,  and  the  armed  men  from  the  cars.  The 
delay,  it  was  supposed,  would  be  only  temporary  ; 
there  were  track-laying  instruments  in  the  car ; 
the  rails  could  soon  be  reset.  But  when  it  was 
seen  that  each  of  the  rails  had  disappeared  (for 
our  adventurers  had  carried  them  off  with  them) 
there  was  a  murmur  of  disgust  and  disappoint- 
ment. 

"  Why  not  tear  up  some  rails  in  the  rear  of 
the  train,  and  lay  them  in  the  break,"  suggested 
one  of  the  Southerners. 

"  That  will  take  too  long,"  cried  Fuller,  and  to 


Energetic  Pursuit  195 

this  statement  Murphy  readily  assented.  As  it 
was,  the  stolen  "  General "  was  far  enough  ahead 
of  them ;  too  far  ahead,  indeed.  If  the  pursuers 
waited  here  for  such  a  complicated  piece  of  work 
as  this  tearing  up  and  re-laying  of  the  track, 
they  might  lose  the  race  altogether.  The  con- 
ductor and  Murphy  started  once  more  to  run  up 
the  road-bed  (just  as  they  had  footed  it  earlier  in 
the  morning  at  Big  Shanty),  and  left  the  rest  of 
the  party  to  mend  the  track. 

Were  they  merely  running  on  in  an  aimless 
way?  Not  by  any  means.  They  had  not 
gone  very  far  before  the  freight  train  which 
Andrews  had  encountered  at  Adairsville  came 
groaning  down  the  track.  The  two  men  made 
violent  gesticulations  as  signals  to  the  engineer, 
and  the  train  was  slowly  stopped. 

"  Did  you  meet '  The  General '  ?  "  cried  Fuller. 

The  freight  engineer  told  the  story  of  the  im- 
pressed powder-train  that  was  hurrying  on  to 
Beauregard,  and  of  the  fine-looking,  imperious 
Confederate  who  was  in  command. 

"  "Well,  that  Confederate  is  a  Yankee^''  came 
the  explanation. 

The  freight  engineer  made  use  of  some  ex- 


196  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

pressions  which  were  rather  uncomplimentary  to 
Andrews.  To  think  that  the  supposed  Confeder- 
ate, who  had  acted  as  if  he  owned  the  whole 
State  of  Georgia,  was  an  enemy — a  spy  1  Why, 
the  thought  was  provoking  enough  to  ruffle  the 
most  placid  temper.  And  the  engineer's  natural 
temper  was  by  no  means  placid. 

"I  must  have  your  engine  to  catch  these 
fellows  !  "  said  Fuller.  Naturally  there  was  no 
dissent  to  this  command.  He  quickly  backed  the 
train  to  Adairsville,  where  the  freight  cars  were 
dropped.  Then  Fuller,  with  engine  and  tender 
still  reversed  (for  there  was  no  turn-table  avail- 
able), hurried  northward  on  the  way  to  Calhoun 
station. 

"  This  engine  is  a  great  sight  better  than  the 
last  one  I  had,"  said  the  conductor,  in  a  tone  of 
exultation,  to  Bracken,  his  new  engineer. 

"  Ah,  '  The  Texas '  is  the  finest  engine  in  the 
whole  state,"  answered  Bracken,  with  the  air  of 
a  proud  father  speaking  of  a  child. 

They  were  tearing  along  at  a  terrific  speed 
when  Bracken  suddenly  reversed  "The  Texas" 
and  brought  her  to  a  halt  with  a  shock  that 
would  have  thrown  less  experienced  men  out  of 


Energetic  Pursuit  197 

the  cab.  On  the  track  in  front  of  them  were 
some  of  the  cross-ties  which  the  fugitives  had 
thrown  out  of  their  car.  Fortunately  Fuller  had 
just  taken  his  position  on  the  tender  in  front  and 
gave  the  signal  the  instant  he  saw  the  ties. 
As  "  The  Texas  "  stood  there,  all  quivering  and 
panting,  the  conductor  jumped  to  the  ground  and 
threw  the  ties  from  the  track ;  then  he  mounted 
the  tender  again,  and  the  engine  kept  on  to  the 
northward  with  its  smoke-stack  and  headlight 
pointed  in  the  opposite  direction.  The  same 
program  was  repeated  later  on,  where  more  ties 
were  encountered. 

When  "The  Texas"  dashed  into  Calhoun  it 
had  run  a  distance  of  ten  miles,  including  the 
time  spent  in  removing  cross-ties,  in  exactly 
twelve  minutes. 

"  I'm  after  the  Yankees  who're  in  my  stolen 
engine,"  cried  Fuller  to  the  idlers  on  the  plat- 
form. "  I  want  armed  volunteers  !  "  He  wasted 
no  words;  the  story  was  complete  as  he  thus 
told  it ;  the  effect  was  magical.  Men  with  rifles 
were  soon  clambering  into  the  tender.  As  "  The 
Texas"  glided  away  from  the  platform  Fuller 
stretched  out  his   sturdy  right  arm   to   a  boy 


198  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

standing  thereon  and  pulled  him,  with  a  vigor- 
ous jerk,  into  the  cab.  The  next  minute  the 
engine  was  gone.  The  lad  was  a  young  tele- 
graph operator  whom  the  conductor  had  recog- 
nized. There  was  no  employment  for  him  as 
yet,  because  the  wires  were  cut  along  the  line, 
but  there  might  be  need  for  him  later. 

Fuller  was  now  aglow  with  hope.  He  was 
brave,  energetic  and  full  of  expedients,  as  we 
have  seen,  and  he  was  warming  up  more  and 
more  as  the  possibility  of  overtaking  "The 
General"  became  the  greater.  From  what  he 
had  learned  at  Calhoun  he  knew  that  the  North- 
erners were  only  a  short  distance  ahead.  His 
promptness  seemed  about  to  be  crowned  with  a 
glorious  reward.  He  might  even  make  prisoners 
of  the  reckless  train-robbers. 

And  there,  not  more  than  a  mile  in  front  of 
him,  was  "  The  General "  !  He  saw  the  engine 
and  the  three  baggage  cars,  and  his  heart 
bounded  at  the  welcome  sight.  Then  he  espied 
the  men  working  on  the  track,  and  saw  them, 
later,  as  they  rapidly  boarded  their  train.  The 
Southerners  in  the  tender  of  "The  Texas" 
cheered,  and  held  firmly  to  their  rifles.     At  any 


Energetic  Pursuit  199 

second  now  might  their  weapons  be  needed  in  a 
fight  at  close  quarters. 

Of  the  chase  from  this  point  to  Dalton  we  al- 
ready know.  Before  Fuller  reached  that  station 
he  knew  that  it  would  be  possible  to  send  a 
telegram  to  Chattanooga,  by  way  of  Cleveland, 
even  if  the  Northerners  should  cut  the  wires  on 
the  main  line. 

"Here,"  he  said  to  the  young  telegraph 
operator,  "  I  want  you  to  send  a  telegram  to 
General  Lead  better,  commanding  general  at 
Chattanooga,  as  soon  as  we  get  to  Dalton.  Put 
it  through  both  Avays  if  you  can,  but  by  the 
Cleveland  line  at  any  rate."  The  conductor 
took  a  paper  from  his  wallet  and  wrote  a  few 
words  of  warning  to  General  Leadbetter,  telling 
him  not  to  let  "  The  General "  and  its  crew  get 
past  Chattanooga.  "My  train  was  captured  this 
morning  at  Big  Shanty,  evidently  by  Federal 
soldiers  in  disguise,"  he  penciled. 

On  the  arrival  at  Dalton  this  telegram  was 
sent,  exactly  as  the  shrewd  Andrews  had 
prophesied.  Then  "  The  Texas  "  fled  away  from 
Dalton  and  the  chase  continued,  as  we  have 
seen  in  the  previous  chapter,  until  a  point  of  the 


200  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

railroad  about  thirteen  miles  from  Chattanooga 
was  reached. 

In  the  cab  of  "The  General"  Andrews  was 
standing  with  his  head  bowed  down ;  his  stock 
of  hopefulness  had  suddenly  vanished.  At  last 
he  saw  that  the  expedition,  of  which  he  had 
cherished  such  high  expectations,  was  a  complete 
failure.  A  few  miles  in  front  was  Chattanooga, 
where  capture  awaited  them,  while  a  mile  in  the 
rear  were  well-armed  men. 

"  There's  only  one  thing  left  to  do,"  he  said 
mournfully  to  George,  who  was  regarding  his 
chief  with  anxious  interest.  "  We  must  abandon 
the  engine,  scatter,  and  get  back  to  General 
Mitchell's  lines  as  best  we  can,  each  in  his  own 
way ! " 

Then  the  leader  put  his  hand  on  the  engineer's 
shoulder.  "  Stop  the  engine,"  he  said ;  "  the 
game  is  up ;  the  dance  is  over ! " 

The  engineer  knew  only  too  well  what  An- 
drews meant.  He  obeyed  the  order,  and  the 
tired  "  General,"  which  had  faithfully  carried 
the  party  for  about  a  hundred  miles,  panted  and 
palpitated  like  a  dying  horse.  The  great  loco- 
motive was,  indeed,  in  a  pitiable  condition.     The 


Energetic  Pursuit  20 1 

brass  of  the  journals  and  boxes  was  melted  by 
the  heat ;  the  steel  tires  were  actually  red-hot, 
and  the  steam  issued  from  all  the  loosened 
joints. 

Andrews  turned  to  the  men  who  were  huddled 
together  in  the  tender. 

"Every  man  for  himself,  boys,"  he  cried. 
"  You  must  scatter  and  do  the  best  you  can  to 
steal  into  the  Federal  lines.  I've  led  you  as  well 
as  I  could — but  the  fates  were  against  us.  God 
bless  you,  boys,  and  may  we  all  meet  again  ! " 

As  he  spoke  the  leader — now  a  leader  no 
longer — threw  some  papers  into  the  furnace  of 
the  locomotive.  In  a  twinkling  they  were  re- 
duced to  ashes.  They  were  Federal  documents. 
One  of  them  was  a  letter  from  General  Mitchell 
which,  had  it  been  found  upon  Andrews  by  the 
Confederates,  would  in  itself  have  proved  evidence 
enough  to  convict  him  as  a  spy. 

The  men  in  the  tender  jumped  to  the  ground. 
So,  likewise,  did  George,  the  engineer  and  his 
assistant.  Andrews  remained  standing  in  the 
cab.  He  looked  like  some  sea  captain  who  was 
waiting  to  sink  beneath  the  waves  in  his  deserted 
ship.     He  worked  at  the  lever  and  touched  the 


202  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

valve,  and  then  leaped  from  his  post  to  the  road- 
bed. The  next  moment  "  The  General "  was 
moving  backwards  towards  the  oncoming 
"Texas." 

"  We'll  give  them  a  little  taste  of  collision  !  " 
he  cried.  His  companions  turned  their  eyes  to- 
wards the  departing  "  General."  If  the  engine 
would  only  run  with  sufficient  force  into  the 
enemy,  the  latter  might — well,  it  was  hard  to 
predict  what  might  not  happen.  Much  de- 
pended on  the  next  minute. 

There  was  a  whistle  from  "The  Texas." 
"  The  General "  kept  on  to  the  rear,  but  at  a 
slow  pace.  No  longer  did  the  staunch  machine 
respond  to  the  throttle.  The  fire  in  the  furnace 
was  burning  low  ;  there  was  little  or  no  steam  ; 
the  iron  horse  was  spent  and  lame. 

The  adventurers  looked  on,  first  expectantly, 
then  gloomily.  They  saw  that  "  The  General " 
was  incapacitated ;  they  saw,  too,  that  the 
enemy  reversed  their  own  engine,  and  ran  back- 
wards until  the  poor  "  General "  came  to  a  com- 
plete standstill.  Pursuit  was  thus  delayed,  but 
by  no  means  checked. 

"  That's  no  good,"  sighed  Andrews.     "  Come, 


Energetic  Pursuit  203 

comrades,  while  there  is  still  time,  and  off  with 
us  in  different  parties.  Push  to  the  westward, 
and  we  may  come  up  to  Mitchell's  forces  on  the 
other  side  of  Chattanooga." 

Soon  the  men  were  running  to  the  shelter  of  a 
neighboring  wood.  George  seemed  glued  to  the 
sight  of  the  departing  "  General."  He  felt  as  if 
an  old  friend  was  leaving  him,  and  so  he  was 
one  of  the  last  to  move.  As  he,  too,  finally  ran 
off,  Waggle,  who  had  been  released  from  his 
master's  pocket,  bounded  by  his  side  as  if  the 
whole  proceeding  were  an  enjoyable  picnic. 
When  George  reached  the  wood  many  of  the  men 
were  already  invisible.  He  found  Watson  lean- 
ing against  a  tree,  pale  and  breathless. 

"What's  the  matter?"  asked  the  boy  anx- 
iously. 

"  Nothing,"  said  Watson.  "  This  rough  jour- 
ney over  this  crooked  railroad  has  shaken  me  up 
a  bit.  I'll  be  all  right  in  a  minute.  Just  wait 
and  we'll  go  along  together.  I  wouldn't  like  to 
see  any  harm  happen  to  you,  youngster,  while  I 
have  an  arm  to  protect  you. 

"Come  on,"  he  continued,  when  he  had  re- 
gained   his    breath ;    "  we    can't  stay  here.     I 


204  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

wonder  why  Mitchell  didn't  push  on  and  capture 
Chattanooga.  Then  we  would  not  have  had  to 
desert  the  old  engine." 

The  fact  was  that  General  Mitchell,  after 
capturing  Huntsville  on  April  the  11th,  had 
moved  into  the  country  to  the  northeastward 
until  he  came  within  thirty  miles  of  Chatta- 
nooga. At  this  point  he  waited,  hoping  to  hear 
that  Andrews  and  his  companions  had  destroyed 
the  railroad  communications  from  Chattanooga. 
No  such  news  reached  him,  however ;  he  feared 
that  the  party  had  failed,  and  he  was  unable  to 
advance  farther,  under  the  circumstances,  with- 
out receiving  reinforcements.  But  of  all  this 
"Watson  was  ignorant. 

The  man  and  boy  stole  out  of  the  wet  woods, 
and  thence  a  short  distance  to  the  westward 
until  they  reached  the  bottom  of  a  steep  hill 
which  was  surmounted  by  some  straggling  oaks. 
They  started  to  walk  briskly  up  the  incline,  fol- 
lowed by  "Waggie.  Suddenly  they  heard  a  sound 
that  instinctively  sent  a  chill  running  up  and 
down  George's  spine. 

"  What's  that  ?  "  he  asked.     "  Some  animal  ?  " 

Watson  gave  a  grim,  unpleasant  laugh.     "  It's 


Energetic  Pursuit  205 

a  hound,"  he  answered.  "Come  on;  we  don't 
want  that  sort  of  gentleman  after  us.  He'd  be  a 
rougher  animal  to  handle  than  Waggie." 

George  redoubled  his  pace.  But  his  steps 
began  to  lag ;  his  brain  was  in  a  whirl ;  he  be- 
gan to  feel  as  if  he  was  acting  a  part  in  some 
horrible  dream.  Nothing  about  him  seemed 
real ;  it  was  as  if  his  sensations  were  those  of 
another  person. 

"  Anything  wrong  ? "  asked  "Watson,  as  he 
saw  that  the  lad  was  falling  behind  him. 

"  Nothing ;  I'm  coming,"  was  the  plucky 
answer.  But  fatigue  and  hunger,  and  exposure 
to  the  rain,  had  done  their  work.  George  tot- 
tered, clutched  at  the  air,  and  then  sank  on 
the  hillside,  inert  and  unconscious.  In  a  mo- 
ment Waggie  was  licking  his  face,  with  a  pa- 
thetic expression  of  inquiry  in  his  little  brown 
eyes,  and  Watson  was  bending  over  him.  Again 
came  the  bay  from  the  hound  and  the  distant 
cry  from  a  human  voice. 


CHAPTER  YIII 

TWO  WEAKY  WANDERERS 

"  Poor  boy,"  muttered  Watson.  "  He  is  done 
out."  He  saw  that  George's  collapse  was  due  to 
a  fainting  spell,  which  in  itself  was  nothing 
dangerous.  But  when  he  heard  the  distant  bay- 
ing of  the  dog,  and  heard,  too,  the  voices  of  men 
— no  doubt  some  of  the  armed  Southerners  from 
the  pursuing  train — he  saw  the  peril  that  en- 
compassed both  himself  and  the  boy.  Here 
they  were  almost  on  top  of  a  hill,  near  the 
enemy,  and  with  no  means  of  escape  should  they 
be  unfortunate  enough  to  be  seen  by  the  South- 
erners or  tracked  by  the  hound.  If  George 
could  be  gotten  at  once  to  the  other  side  of  the 
hill  he  would  be  screened  from  view — otherwise 
he  and  Watson  would  soon But  the  sol- 
dier did  not  stop  to  think  what  might  happen. 
He  jumped  quickly  to  his  feet,  seized  the  uncon- 
scious George,  and  ran  with  him,  as  one  might 
have  run  with  some  helpless  infant,  to  the  top  of 

306 


Two  Weary  Wanderers  207 

the  hill,  and  then  down  on  the  other  side.  Waggie 
came  barking  after  them  ;  he  seemed  to  ask  why 
it  was  that  his  master  had  gone  to  sleep  in  this 
sudden  fashion.  Watson  paused  for  a  few 
seconds  at  the  bottom  of  the  hill,  and  placed  his 
burden  on  the  wet  grass.  There  was  as  yet  no 
sign  of  returning  life.  Once  more  came  that  un- 
canny bay.  The  man  again  took  George  in  his 
arras. 

"  We  can't  stay  here,"  he  said.  He  himself 
was  ready  to  drop  from  the  fatigue  and  excite- 
ment of  the  day,  but  hope  of  escape  gave  him 
strength,  and  he  ran  on  through  an  open  field 
until  he  reached  some  bottom-land  covered  by  a 
few  unhealthy-looking  pine-trees.  Here  he 
paused,  panting  almost  as  hard  as  the  poor  van- 
ished "  General "  had  done  in  the  last  stages  of 
its  journey.  He  next  deposited  his  charge  on  the 
sodden  earth.  They  were  both  still  in  imminent 
danger  of  pursuit,  but  for  the  time  being  they 
were  screened  from  view. 

Watson  bent  tenderly  over  the  boy,  whilst 
Waggie  pulled  at  his  sleeve  as  he  had  been  ac- 
customed to  do  far  away  at  home  when  he 
Avanted  to  wake  up  his  master.     George  finally 


2o8  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

opened  his  eyes  and  looked  around  him,  first 
dreamily,  then  with  a  startled  air. 

"It's  all  right,  my  lad,"  whispered  Watson 
cheerily.  "You  only  fainted  away,  just  for 
variety,  but  now  you  are  chipper  enough  again." 

George  stretched  his  arms,  raised  himself  to  a 
sitting  posture,  and  then  sank  back  wearily  on 
the  ground. 

"I'm  so  tired,"  he  said.  "Can't  I  go  to 
sleep  ?  "  He  was  utterly  weary ;  he  cared  not  if 
a  whole  army  of  men  and  dogs  was  after  him ; 
his  one  idea  was  rest — rest. 

"This  won't  do,"  said  Watson  firmly.  "We 
can't  stay  here."  He  produced  from  his  pocket 
a  little  flask,  poured  some  of  the  contents  down 
the  boy's  throat,  and  then  took  a  liberal  drink 
himself.  George  began  to  revive,  as  he  asked 
how  he  had  been  brought  to  his  present  resting- 
place. 

"  In  my  arms,"  exclaimed  Watson.  "  But  I 
can't  keep  that  sort  of  thing  up  forever.  We 
must  get  away  from  here.  Every  moment  is 
precious." 

As  if  to  emphasize  the  truth  of  this  warning, 
the  baying  of  the  dog  and  the  cries  of  men  be- 


Two  Weary  Wanderers  209 

gan  to  sound  nearer.  Watson  sprang  to  his  feet. 
The  increase  of  the  danger  gave  him  new  nerve ; 
he  no  longer  looked  the  tired,  haggard  man  of 
five  minutes  ago. 

"  We  can't  stay  here,"  he  said,  calmly  but  im- 
pressively ;  "  it  would  be  certain  capture !  " 

George  was  up  in  an  instant.  The  draught 
from  the  flask  had  invested  him  with  new  vigor. 

"Where  shall  we  go?"  he  asked.  "I'm  all 
right  again." 

"  To  the  river,"  answered  AVatson.  He  pointed 
eagerly  to  the  right  of  the  pines,  where  they 
could  see,  in  the  darkening  light  of  the  after- 
noon, a  swollen  stream  rushing  madly  past.  It 
might  originally  have  been  a  small  river,  but 
now,  owing  to  the  spring  rains  and  freshets,  it 
looked  turbulent  and  dangerous.  It  was  difficult 
to  cross,  yet  for  that  very  reason  it  would  make 
a  barrier  between  pursued  and  pursuers.  Should 
the  former  try  the  experiment  ? 

"Can  you  swim?"  asked  Watson. 

"  Yes." 

"Then  we'll  risk  it.  After  all,  the  water's 
safer  for  us  than  the  land," 

Out  through  the    pines  they    ran  until  they 


210  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

were  at  the  water's  edge.  The  sight  was  not 
encouraging.  The  river  foamed  like  an  angry 
ocean,  and  a  strong  current  was  sweeping  down 
to  the  northward. 

The  soldier  looked  at  the  boy  in  kindly 
anxiety.  "  The  water  is  a  little  treacherous, 
George,"  he  said.  "  Do  you  think  you're  strong 
enough  to  venture  across  ?  " 

"  Of  course  I  am  !  "  answered  George,  proudly. 
He  felt  more  like  himself  now ;  he  even  be- 
trayed a  mild  indignation  at  the  doubts  of  his 
friend. 

"  Well,"  began  Watson,  "  we  had — but  listen  ! 
By  Jove,  those  rascals  have  discovered  us! 
They're  making  this  way !  " 

It  was  true ;  the  barking  of  the  dog  and  the 
sound  of  many  voices  came  nearer  and  nearer. 
Waggie  began  to  growl  fiercely,  quite  as  if  he 
were  large  enough  to  try  a  bout  with  a  whole 
Confederate  regiment. 

"  Take  off  your  shoes,  George,"  cried  Watson. 
"  Your  coat  and  vest,  too." 

Both  the  fugitives  divested  themselves  of  boots, 
coats  and  vests ;  their  hats  they  had  already  lost 
in  their  flight   from  "The  General."     In   their 


Two  Weary  Wanderers  2 1 1 

trousers  pockets  they  stuffed  their  watches  and 
some  Confederate  money. 

A  sudden  thought  crossed  George's  mind.  It 
was  a  painful  thought. 

"What's  to  become  of  Waggie?"  he  asked. 
"I  can't  leave  him  here."  He  would  as  soon 
have  left  a  dear  relative  stranded  on  the  bank  of 
the  river. 

"I'm  afraid  you'll  have  to  leave  him,"  said 
Watson. 

"  I  can't,"  replied  George.  There  was  a 
second's  pause — but  it  seemed  like  the  suspense 
of  an  hour.  Then  the  lad  had  a  lucky  inspira- 
tion. He  leaned  down  and  drew  from  a  side 
pocket  of  his  discarded  coat  a  roll  of  strong  cord 
which  had  been  used  when  he  climbed  the  tele- 
graph poles.  Pulling  a  knife  from  a  pocket  in 
his  trousers  he  cut  a  piece  of  the  cord  about  two 
yards  in  length,  tied  one  end  around  his  waist 
and  attached  the  other  end  to  Waggle's  collar. 
The  next  instant  he  had  plunged  into  the  icy 
water,  dragging  the  dog  in  after  him.  Watson 
followed,  and  struck  out  into  the  torrent  with 
the  vigor  of  an  athlete. 

George  found  at  once  that  his  work  meant 


212  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

something  more  than  keeping  himself  afloat 
The  current  was  rapid,  and  it  required  all  his 
power  to  keep  from  being  carried  down  the  river 
like  a  helpless  log.  Waggie  was  sputtering  and 
pawing  the  water  in  his  master's  "wake. 

"Keep  going,"  shouted  Watson.  "This  cur- 
rent's no  joke  ! "  Even  he  was  having  no  child's 
play. 

Just  then  George  had  his  mouth  full  of  water ; 
he  could  only  go  on  battling  manfully.  But  he 
began  to  feel  a  great  weakness.  Was  he  about 
to  faint  again  ?  He  dared  not  think  of  it. 
There  was  a  loosening  of  the  cord  around  his 
waist.  He  looked  to  his  left  and  there  was 
Waggie  floating  down  the  stream  like  a  tiny  piece 
of  wood.     His  head  had  slipped  from  his  collar. 

Watson  tried  to  grab  the  dog  as  he  floated  by, 
but  it  was  too  late.  He  might  as  well  have  tried 
to  change  the  tide. 

"  Go  on,  George,  go  on ! "  he  urged,  breath- 
lessly. The  boy  struggled  onward,  but  he  had 
already  overtaxed  his  strength.  He  became 
dizzy  ;  his  arms  and  legs  refused  to  work. 

"What's  the  matter?"  sputtered  his  com- 
panion, who  was  now  alongside  of  him. 


Two  Weary  Wanderers  213 

"  Go  on ;  don't  mind  me,"  said  George,  in  a 
choking  voice. 

"Put  your  hand  on  my  belt,"  sternly  com- 
manded Watson.  The  young  swimmer  obeyed, 
scarcely  knowing  what  he  did.  Watson  kept  on 
like  a  giant  fish,  sometimes  in  danger  of  being 
swept  away,  and  sometimes  drawing  a  few  feet 
nearer  to  the  opposite  bank. 

*  *  *  *  ^t  * 

The  HQxt  thing  that  George  knew  was  when 
he  found  himself  lying  on  the  river's  edge.  Wat- 
son was  peering  at  him  anxiously. 

"  That's  right ;  open  your  eyes,"  he  said. 
"  We  had  a  narrow  escape,  but  we're  over  the 
river  at  last.  I  just  got  you  over  in  time,  for 
when  we  neared  shore  you  let  go  of  me,  and  I 
had  to  pull  you  in  by  the  hair  of  your  head." 

"How  can  I  ever  thank  you,"  said  George, 
feebly  but  gratefully. 

"  By  not  trying,"  answered  Watson.  "  Come, 
there's  not  a  second  to  lose.  Don't  you  hear 
our  enemies  ?  " 

There  was  no  doubt  as  to  the  answer  to  that 
question.  Across  the  river  sounded  the  baying 
and  the  harsh  human  voices.     Almost    before 


214  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

George  realized  what  had  happened  Watson  had 
pulled  him  a  dozen  yards  away  to  a  spot  behind 
a  large  boulder. 

"Keep  on  your  back!"  he  ordered.  "The 
men  are  on  the  other  bank." 

None  too  soon  had  he  executed  this  manoeuvre. 
He  and  George  could  hear,  above  the  noise  of 
the  rushing  stream,  the  tones  of  their  pursuers. 
They  had  just  reached  the  river,  and  must  be 
searching  for  the  two  Northerners.  More  than 
once  the  hound  gave  a  loud  whine,  as  if  he  were 
baffled  or  disappointed. 

"  They  can't  be  here,"  came  a  voice  from  across 
the  river.  "  We  had  better  go  back ;  they  may 
be  down  the  railroad  track." 

"  Perhaps  they  swam  across  the  stream,"  urged 
some  one  else. 

"  That  would  be  certain  death ! "  answered  the 
first  voice. 

There  was  a  whining  from  the  dog,  as  if  he 
had  discovered  a  scent.  Then  a  simultaneous 
cry  from  several  sturdy  lungs.  "  Look  at  these 
coats  and  boots  !  "  "  They  did  try  to  cross,  after 
all."  "Well,  they  never  got  over  in  this  cur- 
rent ! "     "  They  must  have  been  carried  down 


None  too  Soon  Had  He  Executed  this  Maxceuvre 


Two  Weary  Wanderers  215 

the  Chickamauga  and  been  drowned ! "  Such 
were  the  exclamations  which  were  wafted  to  the 
ears  of  the  two  fugitives  behind  the  rock. 

"  The  Chickamauga,"  said  Watson,  under  his 
breath.     "  So  that's  the  name  of  the  river,  eh  ?  " 

There  was  evidently  some  heated  discussion 
going  on  among  the  unseen  pursuers.  At  length 
one  of  them  cried :  "  Well,  comrades,  as  there's 
not  one  of  us  who  wants  to  swim  over  the  river 
in  its  present  state,  and  as  the  fools  may  even  be 
drowned  by  this  time,  I  move  we  go  home.  The 
whole  countryside  will  be  on  the  lookout  for  the 
rest  of  the  engine  thieves  by  to-morrow — and 
they  won't  escape  us  before  then." 

"  Nonsense,"  interrupted  a  voice,  "  don't  you 
know  night's  just  the  time  which  they  will  take 
for  escape  ?  " 

"Are  you  ready,  then,  to  swim  across  the 
Chickamauga  ?  " 

"No." 

"  Then  go  home,  and  don't  talk  nonsense !  To- 
morrow, when  the  river  is  less  angry,  we  will  be 
up  by  dawn — and  then  for  a  good  hunt ! " 

Apparently  the  advice  of  the  last  speaker  was 
considered  wise,  for  the  men  left  the  river  bank. 


2i6  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

At  last  their  voices  could  be  no  longer  heard  in 
the  distance.  The  shades  of  twilight  began  to 
fall,  and  the  rain  ceased.  Then  Watson  and  his 
companion  crawled  cautiously  from  behind  the 
boulder.  They  were  two  as  dilapidated  creatures 
as  ever  drew  breath  under  a  southern  sky. 
With  soaking  shirts  and  trousers,  and  with- 
out coats,  vests,  or  shoes,  they  looked  the  picture 
of  destitution.  And  their  feelings !  They  were 
hungry,  dispirited,  exhausted.  All  the  pleasure 
seemed  to  have  gone  out  of  life. 

"  We  can't  stay  in  this  charming  spot  all 
night,"  said  Watson,  sarcastically. 

"  I  suppose  a  rock  is  as  good  as  anything  else 
we  can  find,"  answered  the  boy  gloomily. 
"  Poor  Waggie !  Why  did  I  try  to  drag  him 
across  the  river  ?  " 

"Poor  little  midget,"  said  Watson.  "I'll 
never  forget  the  appealing  look  in  his  eyes  as  he 
went  sailing  past  me." 

"  Do  you  hear  that  ?  "  cried  George. 

"  Hear  what  ?    Some  one  after  us  again  ?  " 

"  No ;  it's  a  dog  barking ! " 

"  Why,  it  sounds  like  Waggie,  but  it  can't  be 
he.     He's  gone  to  another  world." 


Two  Weary  Wanderers  217 

"  No,  he  hasn't,"  answered  George.  He  for- 
got his  weakness,  and  started  to  run  down  the 
bank,  in  the  direction  whence  the  sound  pro- 
ceeded. Watson  remained  behind  ;  he  could  not 
believe  that  it  was  the  dog. 

In  the  course  of  several  minutes  George  came 
running  back.  He  was  holding  in  his  hands  a 
little  animal  that  resembled  a  drowned  rat.  It 
was  "Waggie — very  wet,  very  bedraggled,  but 
still  alive. 

"  Well,  if  that  isn't  a  miracle  !  "  cried  Watson. 
He  stroked  the  dripping  back  of  the  rescued  dog, 
whereupon  Waggie  looked  up  at  him  with  a 
grateful  gleam  in  his  eyes. 

"  I  found  him  just  below  here,  lying  on  a  bit 
of  rock  out  in  the  water  a  few  feet  away  from 
the  bank,"  enthusiastically  explained  George. 
"He  must  have  been  hurled  there,  by  the 
current." 

Watson  laughed. 

"  Well,  Waggie,"  he  said,  "  we  make  three  wet 
looking  tramps,  don't  we  ?  And  I  guess  you  are 
just  as  hungry  as  the  rest." 

Waggie  wagged  his  tail  with  great  violence. 

"  Think  of  a  warm,  comfortable  bed,"  observed 


2i8  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

the  boy,  with  a  sort  of  grim  humor ;  "  and  a 
nice  supper  beforehand  of  meat — and  eggs " 

"  And  hot  coffee — and  biscuits — ^and  a  pipe  of 
tobacco  for  me,  after  the  supper,"  went  on  Wat- 
son. He  turned  from  the  river  and  peered  into 
the  rapidly  increasing  gloom.  About  a  mile  in- 
land, almost  directly  in  front  of  him,  there  shone 
a  cheerful  light. 

George,  who  also  saw  the  gleam,  rubbed  his 
hands  across  his  empty  stomach,  in  a  comical 
fashion. 

"  There  must  be  supper  there,"  he  said,  point- 
ing to  the  house. 

"  But  we  don't  dare  eat  it,"  replied  his  friend. 
"  The  people  within  fifty  miles  of  here  will  be  on 
the  lookout  for  any  of  Andrews'  party — and 
the  mere  appearance  of  us  will  be  enough  to 
arouse  suspicion — and  yet " 

Watson  hesitated  ;  he  was  in  a  quandary.  He 
was  not  a  bit  frightened,  but  he  felt  that  the 
chances  of  escape  for  George  and  himself  were 
at  the  ratio  of  one  to  a  thousand.  He  knew 
actually  nothing  of  the  geography  of  the  sur- 
rounding country,  and  he  felt  that  as  soon  as 
morning    arrived   the   neighborhood    would    be 


Two  Weary  Wanderers  219 

searched  far  and  wide.  Had  he  been  alone  he 
might  have  tried  to  walk  throughout  the  night 
until  he  had  placed  fifteen  or  twenty  miles  be- 
tween himself  and  his  pursuers.  But  when  he 
thought  of  George's  condition  he  realized  that  it 
would  be  a  physical  impossibility  to  drag  the 
tired  lad  very  far. 

Finally  Watson  started  away  towards  the  dis- 
tant light. 

"  Stay  here  till  I  get  back,"  he  said  to  George ; 
"  I'm  going  to  explore." 

In  less  than  an  hour  he  had  returned  to  the 
river's  bank. 

"  We're  in  luck,"  he  said  joyously.  "  I  stole 
across  to  where  that  light  is,  and  found  it  came 
from  a  little  stone  house.  I  crept  into  the 
garden  on  my  hands  and  knees — there  was  no 
dog  there,  thank  heaven — and  managed  to  get  a 
glimpse  into  the  parlor  through  a  half-closed 
blind.  There  sat  a  sweet-faced,  white-haired  old 
gentleman,  evidently  a  minister  of  the  gospel, 
reading  a  chapter  from  the  scriptures  to  an 
elderly  lady  and  two  girls — his  wife  and  chil- 
dren I  suppose.  He  can't  have  heard  anything 
about  our  business  yet — for  I  heard  him  ask  one 


220  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

of  the  girls,  after  he  stopped  reading,  what  all 
the  blowing  of  locomotive  whistles  meant  this 
afternoon — and  she  didn't  know.  So  we  can 
drop  in  on  them  to-night,  ask  for  supper  and  a 
bed,  and  be  off  at  daybreak  to-morrow  before 
the  old  fellow  has  gotten  wind  of  anything." 

Soon  they  were  off,  Watson,  George  and 
"Waggle,  and  covered  the  fields  leading  to  the 
house  in  unusually  quick  time  for  such  tired 
wanderers.  When  they  reached  the  gate  of 
the  little  garden  in  front  of  the  place  George 
asked  :  "  What  story  are  we  to  tell  ?  " 

"  The  usual  yarn,  I  suppose,"  answered  Wat- 
son. *'  Fleming  County,  Kentucky — anxious  to 
join  the  Confederate  forces — et  cetera.  Bah ! 
I  loathe  all  this  subterfuge  and  deceit.  I  wish  I 
were  back  fighting  the  enemy  in  the  open 
day ! " 

They  walked  boldly  up  to  the  door  of  the 
house  and  knocked.  The  old  gentleman  Avhom 
Watson  had  seen  soon  stood  before  them.  The 
lamp  which  he  held  above  him  shone  upon  a  face 
full  of  benignity  and  peacefulness.  His  features 
were  handsome ;  his  eyes  twinkled  genially,  as  if 
he  loved  all  his  fellow-men. 


Two  Weary  Wanderers  221 

"Watson  told  his  Kentucky  story,  and  asked 
food  and  lodgings  for  George  and  himself  until 
the  early  morning. 

"Come  in,"  said  the  old  man,  simply  but 
cordially,  "  any  friend  of  the  South  is  a  friend  of 
mine." 

The  minister  (for  he  proved  to  be  a  country 
preacher  who  rode  from  church  to  church  "on 
circuit "),  ushered  the  two  Northerners  and  the 
dog  into  his  cozy  sitting-room  and  introduced 
them  to  his  wife  and  two  daughters.  The  wife 
seemed  as  kindly  as  her  husband  ;  the  daughters 
were  pretty  girls  just  growing  into  woman- 
hood. 

"  Here,  children,"  said  the  old  man,  "  get  these 
poor  fellows  some  supper.  They're  on  a  journey 
to  Atlanta,  all  the  way  from  Kentucky,  to  enlist. 
And  I'll  see  if  I  can't  rake  you  up  a  couple  of 
coats  and  some  old  shoes." 

He  disappeared  up-stairs,  and  soon  returned 
with  two  half-worn  coats  and  two  pairs  of  old 
shoes,  which  he  insisted  upon  presenting  to  the 
fugitives. 

"  They  belong  to  my  son,  who  has  gone  to  the 
war,"  he  said,  "  but  he'd  be  glad  to  have  such 


222  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

patriots  as  you  use  them.  How  did  you  both  get 
so  bare  of  clothes  ?  " 

"  We  had  to  swim  across  a  stream,  and  leave 
some  of  our  things  behind,"  explained  Watson. 
He  spoke  but  the  simple  truth.  He  was  glad 
that  he  did,  for  he  hated  to  deceive  a  man  who 
stood  gazing  upon  him  with  such  gentle,  unsus- 
pecting eyes. 

It  was  not  long  before  Watson  and  George 
had  gone  into  the  kitchen,  where  they  found  a 
table  laden  with  a  profusion  of  plain  but  wel- 
come food.  Waggie,  who  had  been  given  some 
milk,  was  lying  fast  asleep  by  the  hearth. 

George  looked  about  him,  when  he  had  finished 
his  supper,  and  asked  himself  why  he  could  not 
have  a  week  of  such  quiet,  peaceful  life  as  this  ? 
Yet  he  knew  that  he  was,  figuratively,  on  the 
brink  of  a  precipice.  At  any  moment  he  might 
be  shown  in  his  true  light.  But  how  much  bet- 
ter he  felt  since  he  had  eaten.  He  was  comfort- 
able and  drowsy.  The  minister  and  his  family, 
who  had  been  bustling  around  attending  to  the 
wants  of  their  guests,  began  to  grow  dim  in  his 
weary  eyes.  Watson,  who  was  sitting  opposite 
to    him,  looked    blurred,   indistinct.      He    was 


Two  Weary  Wanderers  223 

vaguely  conscious  that  the  old  gentleman  was 
saying :  "  These  are  times  that  try  our  souls." 
Then  the  boy  sank  back  in  his  chair,  sound 
asleep.  He  began  to  dream.  He  was  on  the 
cowcatcher  of  an  engine.  Andrews  was  tearing 
along  in  front  on  a  horse,  beckoning  to  him  to 
come  on.  The  engine  sped  on  faster  and  faster, 
but  it  could  not  catch  up  to  the  horseman.  At 
last  Andrews  and  the  horse  faded  away  alto- 
gether ;  and  the  boy  was  swimming  across  the 
Chickamauga  Kiver.  He  heard  a  great  shout 
from  the  opposite  bank — and  awoke. 

"Watson  had  risen  from  the  table ;  the  pipe  of 
tobacco  which  the  minister  had  given  him  as 
a  sort  of  dessert  was  lying  broken  on  the 
hearth.  There  was  a  despairing  look  on  his  face. 
It  was  the  look  that  one  might  expect  to  see  in  a 
hunted  animal  at  bay.  Near  him  stood  the  old 
man,  who  seemed  to  be  the  incarnation  of  mourn- 
ful perplexity,  his  wife,  who  was  no  less  dis- 
turbed, and  the  two  daughters.  One  of  the 
latter,  a  girl  with  dark  hair  and  snapping  black 
eyes,  was  regarding  "Watson  with  an  expres- 
sion of  anger.  On  the  table  was  an  opened 
letter. 


224  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

"  I  am  in  your  power,"  Watson  was  saying  to 
the  minister. 

What  had  been  happening  during  the  half 
hour  which  George  had  devoted  to  a  nap  ? 

"  Poor,  dear  boy,  he's  dropped  off  to  sleep," 
murmured  the  minister's  wife,  when  she  saw 
George  sink  back  in  his  chair.  She  went  into 
the  sitting-room  and  returned  with  a  cushion 
which  she  proceeded  to  place  under  his  head. 
"  He  is  much  too  young  to  go  to  the  war,"  she 
said,  turning  towards  Watson. 

"There  was  no  keeping  him  from  going 
South,"  answered  his  companion.  "  He  would 
go."    Which  was  quite  true. 

The  minister  handed  a  pipe  filled  with  Vir- 
ginia tobacco  to  Watson,  and  lighted  one  for 
himself. 

"  It's  my  only  vice,"  he  laughed  pleasantly. 

"  I  can  well  believe  you,"  rejoined  the  North- 
erner, as  he  gratefully  glanced  at  the  spiritual 
countenance  of  his  host.  "  Why  should  this  old 
gentleman  and  I  be  enemies  ?  "  he  thought.  "  I 
wish  the  war  was  over,  and  that  North  and  South 
were  once  more  firm  friends."  He  proceeded  to 
light  his  pipe. 


Two  Weary  Wanderers  225 

They  began  to  talk  agreeably,  and  the  minis- 
ter told  several  quaint  stories  of  plantation  life, 
while  they  smoked  on,  and  the  women  cleared 
off  the  food  from  the  table. 

At  last  there  came  a  knocking  at  the  front 
door.  The  host  left  the  kitchen,  went  into  the 
hallway,  and  opened  the  door.  He  had  a  brief 
parley  with  some  one  ;  then  the  door  closed,  and 
he  reentered  the  room.  Watson  thought  he 
could  distinguish  the  sound  of  a  horse's  hoofs  as 
an  unseen  person  rode  away. 

"Who's  coming  to  see  you  this  kind  of 
night  ?  "  asked  the  wife.  It  was  a  natural  ques- 
tion. It  had  once  more  begun  to  rain;  there 
were  flashes  of  lightning  and  occasional  rumbles 
of  thunder. 

"A  note  of  some  kind  from  Farmer  Jason," 
explained  the  clergyman.  "I  hope  his  daughter 
is  not  sick  again." 

"  Perhaps  the  horse  has  the  colic,"  suggested 
one  of  the  girls,  who  had  gentle  blue  eyes  like 
her  father's,  "  and  he  wants  some  of  your 
*  Equine  Pills.' " 

"  Who  brought  the  letter  ?  "  enquired  the  wife. 

"  Jason's  hired  man — he  said  he  hadn't  time  to 


226  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

wait — had  to  be  off  with  another  letter  to  Farmer 
Lovejoy' — said  this  letter  would  explain  every- 
thing." 

"  Then  why  don't  you  open  it,  pa,  instead  of 
standing  there  looking  at  the  outside ;  you  act 
as  if  you  were  afraid  of  it,"  spoke  up  the  dark- 
eyed  girl,  who  was  evidently  a  damsel  of  some 
spirit. 

"Here,  you  may  read  it  yourself,  Cynthia," 
said  her  father,  quite  meekly,  as  if  he  had  com- 
mitted some  grave  offense.  He  handed  the 
envelope  to  the  dark-eyed  girl.  She  tore  it 
open,  and  glanced  over  the  single  sheet  of  paper 
inside.  Then  she  gave  a  sharp  cry  of  surprise, 
and  darted  a  quick,  penetrating  glance  at  Watson. 
He  felt  uneasy,  although  he  could  not  explain 
why  he  did. 

"  "What's  the  matter  ?  "  asked  the  minister. 
"  Anything  wrong  at  the  Jasons'  ?  " 

"  Anything  wrong  at  the  Jasons',"  Miss  Cyn- 
thia repeated,  contemptuously.  "  No ;  there's 
something  wrong,  but  it  isn't  over  at  Jasons'. 
Listen  to  this!"  She  held  out  the  paper  at 
arm's  length,  as  if  she  feared  it,  and  read  these 
lines: 


Two  Weary  Wanderers  227 

"Pastor  Buckley, 
"  Dear  Sir : 

"  This  is  to  notify  you  as  how  I  just  have 
had  news  that  a  party  of  Yankee  spies  is  at 
large,  right  in  our  neighborhood.  They  stole  a 
train  to-day  at  Big  Shanty,  but  they  were  ob- 
leeged  to  jump  off  only  a  few  miles  from  here. 
So  you  must  keep  on  the  lookout — they  are 
around — leastwise  a  boy  and  grown  man  have 
been  seen,  although  most  of  the  others  seem  to 
have  gotten  away.  One  of  my  sons — Esau — 
caught  sight  of  this  man  and  boy  on  the  edge 
of  the  river  late  this  afternoon.  He  says  the 
boy  had  a  dog. 

"  Yours, 

"Chaeles  Jason." 

After  Miss  Cynthia  finished  the  reading  of 
this  letter  there  was  a  silence  in  the  room  almost 
tragic  in  its  intensity.  Watson  sprang  to  his 
feet,  as  he  threw  his  pipe  on  the  hearth.  "Waggie 
woke  up  with  a  whine.  The  Keverend  Mr. 
Buckley  looked  at  Watson,  and  then  at  the 
sleeping  boy  in  a  dazed  way — not  angrily,  but 
simply  like  one  who  is  grievously  disappointed. 
So,  too,  did  Mrs.  Buckley  and  her  blue-eyed 
daughter. 

Finally  Miss  Cynthia  broke  the  silence. 

"  So  you  are  Northern  spies,  are  you  ? "  she 
hissed.    "  And  you  come  here  telling  us  a  story 


228  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

about  your  being  so  fond  of  the  South  that  you 
must  travel  all  the  way  from  Kentucky  to  fight 
for  her."  She  threw  the  letter  on  the  supper- 
table,  while  her  eyes  flashed. 

"Watson  saw  that  the  time  of  concealment 
had  passed.  His  identity  was  apparent ;  he  was 
in  the  very  centre  of  the  enemy's  country ;  his  life 
hung  in  the  balance.  He  could  not  even  defend 
himself  save  by  his  hands,  for  the  pistol  which 
he  carried  in  his  hip-pocket  had  been  rendered 
temporarily  useless  by  his  passage  across  the 
river.  Even  if  he  had  possessed  a  whole  brace 
of  pistols,  he  would  not  have  harmed  one  hair  of 
this  kindly  minister's  head. 

"  I  am  a  Northerner,"  said  "Watson,  "  and  I  am 
one  of  the  men  who  stole  a  train  at  Big  Shanty 
this  morning.  "We  got  within  a  few  miles  of 
Chattanooga,  and  then  had  to  abandon  our 
engine,  because  we  were  trapped.  We  tried  to 
burn  bridges,  but  we  failed.  "We  did  no  more 
than  any  Southerners  would  have  done  in  the 
North  under  the  same  circumstances." 

It  was  at  this  point  that  George  awoke.  He 
saw  at  once  that  something  was  wrong  but  he 
prudently  held  his  tongue,  and  listened. 


Two  Weary  Wanderers  229 

"You  are  a  spy,"  reiterated  Miss  Cynthia, 
"  and  you  know  what  the  punishment  for  that 
must  be — North  or  South ! " 

"Of  course  I  know  the  punishment,"  said 
Watson,  with  deliberation.  "  A  scaffold — and  a 
piece  of  rope." 

The  minister  shuddered.  "  They  wouldn't  hang 
the  boy,  would  they  ?  "  asked  his  wife  anxiously. 

Mr.  Buckley  was  about  to  answer,  when  Miss 
Cynthia  suddenly  cried,  "  Listen !  " 

Her  sharp  ears  had  detected  some  noise  out- 
side the  house.  She  left  the  room,  ran  to  the 
front  door,  and  was  back  again  in  a  minute. 

"  Some  of  the  neighbors  are  out  with  dogs 
and  lanterns,  looking,  I'm  sure,  for  the  spies,"  she 
announced  excitedly,  "  and  they  are  coming  up 
the  lane ! " 

The  first  impulse  of  "Watson  was  to  seize 
George,  and  run  from  the  house.  But  he 
realized,  the  next  instant,  how  useless  this  would 
be ;  he  could  even  picture  the  boy  being  shot 
down  by  an  overwhelming  force  of  pur- 
suers. 

"  They  are  coming  this  way,"  said  Mr.  Buck- 
ley, almost  mournfully,  as  the  sound  of  voices 


230  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

could  now  be  plainly  heard  from  the  cozy 
kitchen. 

"  We  are  in  your  hands,"  said  "Watson,  calmly. 
He  turned  to  the  minister. 

"  You  are  fighting  against  my  country,  which 
I  love  more  dearly  than  life  itself,"  answered 
Mr.  Buckley.  "I  can  have  no  sympathy  for 
you !  "  His  face  was  very  white ;  there  was  a 
troubled  look  in  his  kindly  eyes. 

"  But  they  will  be  hung,  father ! "  cried  the 
blue-eyed  daughter. 

"I'm  ashamed  of  you,  Rachel,"  said  Miss 
Cynthia.  Mrs,  Buckley  said  nothing.  She 
seemed  to  be  struggling  with  a  hundred  conflict- 
ing emotions.  Waggie  ran  to  her,  as  if  he  con- 
sidered her  a  friend,  and  put  his  forepaws  on  her 
dress. 

"  Are  you  going  to  give  us  up  ? "  asked 
Watson. 

"I  am  a  loyal  Southerner,"  returned  the 
minister,  very  slowly,  "and  I  know  what  my 
duty  is.     Why  should  I  shield  you  ?  " 

Watson  turned  to  George. 

"It  was  bound  to  come,"  he  said.  "It 
might  as  well  be  to-night  as  to-morrow,  or  the 


Two  Weary  Wanderers  231 

next  day."  The  pursuers  were  almost  at  the 
door. 

"  All  right,"  said  George,  pluckily. 

"  Father,"  said  Miss  Cynthia,  "  the  men  are  at 
the  door !    Shall  I  let  them  in  ?  " 

Mrs.  Buckley  turned  away  her  head,  for  there 
were  tears  in  her  eyes. 


CHAPTER  IX 

IN  GREATEST  PERIL 

"  "Wait  !  "  commanded  the  minister.  There 
was  a  new  look,  one  of  decision,  upon  his  face. 
"  Heaven  forgive  me,"  he  said,  "  if  I  am  not  do- 
ing right — but  I  cannot  send  a  man  to  the  gal- 
lows ! " 

He  took  a  step  towards  the  door  leading  to 
the  entry. 

"Not  a  word,  Cynthia,"  he  ordered.'  He 
opened  a  large  closet,  filled  Avith  groceries  and 
preserving  jars,  quickly  pushed  George  and  Wat- 
son into  it,  and  closed  the  door. 

"  Now,  Rachel,"  he  said,  "  let  the  men  in." 
The  girl  departed.  Within  the  space  of  a  min- 
ute nearly  a  dozen  neighbors,  all  of  them  carry- 
ing muskets,  trooped  into  the  kitchen.  They 
were  sturdy  planters,  and  they  looked  wet  and 
out  of  humor. 

"Well,  Dominie,"  exclaimed  one  of  them, 
walking  up  to  the  fire  and  warming  his  hands, 
"  you  can  thank  your  stars  you're  not  out  a  mean 

232 


In  Greatest  Peril  233 

night  like  this.  Have  you  heard  about  the  big 
engine  steal  ?  " 

"  Friend  Jason  has  written  me  about  it,"  re- 
plied Mr.  Buckley. 

"  Why,  it  was  the  most  daring  thing  I  ever 
heard  tell  on,"  cried  another  of  the  party.  "  A 
lot  of  Yankees  actually  seized  Fuller's  train  when 
he  was  eating  his  breakfast  at  Big  Shanty,  and 
ran  it  almost  to  Chattanooga.  They  had  pluck, 
that's  certain  ! " 

"  We're  not  here  to  praise  their  pluck,"  inter- 
rupted another  man.  "  We  are  here  to  find  out 
if  any  of  'em  have  been  seen  around  your  place. 
We've  been  scouring  the  country  for  two  hours, 
but  there's  no  trace  of  any  of  'em  so  far — not 
even  of  the  man  with  the  boy  and  the  dog,  as 
Jason's  son  said  he  saw." 

"  Why  didn't  Jason's  son  tackle  the  fellows  ?  " 
asked  a  voice. 

"  Pooh,"  said  the  man  at  the  fireplace ;  "  Ja- 
son's son  ain't  no  'count.  All  he's  fit  for  is  to 
dance  with  the  girls.  It's  well  our  army  doesn't 
depend  on  such  milksops  as  him.  He  would  run 
away  from  a  mosquito — and  cry  about  it  after- 
wards ! " 


234  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

"  You  haven't  seen  any  one  suspicious  about 
here,  have  you,  parson  ?  "  asked  a  farmer. 

The  minister  hesitated.  He  had  never  told  a 
deliberate  falsehood  in  his  life.  Was  he  to  begin 
now? 

"  Seen  no  suspicious  characters  ?  "  echoed  the 
man  at  the  fireplace.     "  No  boy  with  a  dog  ?  " 

The  tongue  of  the  good  clergyman  seemed  to 
cleave  to  the  roof  of  his  mouth.  He  could  see 
the  eagle  glance  of  Miss  Cynthia  fixed  upon  him. 
Just  then  Waggie,  who  had  been  sniffing  at  the 
closet  door,  returned  to  the  fireplace. 

"  Why,  since  when  have  you  started  to  keep 
dogs,  parson  ?  "  asked  the  last  speaker. 

The  minister  had  an  inspiration. 

"  That  dog  walked  in  here  this  evening,"  he 
said.  "  I  believe  him  to  be  the  dog  of  the  boy 
you  speak  of."  He  spoke  truth,  but  he  had 
evaded  answering  the  leading  question. 

"  Great  George !  "  cried  the  man  at  the  fire- 
place. "  Then  some  of  the  spies  are  in  the  neigh- 
borhood yet ! "  There  were  shouts  of  assent 
from  his  companions. 

"  When  did  the  dog  stray  in  ?  "  was  asked. 

"  More  than  an  hour  ago,"  said  Mr.  Buckley. 


In  Greatest  Peril  235 

"  Come,  let's  try  another  hunt  1 "  called  out  a 
young  planter.  The  men  were  out  of  the  house 
the  next  minute,  separating  into  groups  of  two 
and  three  to  scour  the  countryside.  The  lights 
of  their  lanterns,  which  had  shone  out  in  the 
rain  like  will-o'-the-wisps,  grew  dimmer  and  dim- 
mer, and  finally  disappeared. 

As  the  front  door  closed  the  minister  sat  down 
near  the  table,  and  buried  his  face  in  his  hands. 

"  I  wonder  if  I  did  wrong,"  he  said,  almost  to 
himself.  "But  I  could  not  take  a  life — and  that 
is  what  it  would  have  been  if  I  had  given  them  up." 

"  Pa,  you're  too  soft-hearted  for  this  world,'* 
snapped  Miss  Cynthia. 

Mrs.  Buckley  looked  at  her  daughter  reprov- 
ingly. 

"  Your  father  is  a  minister  of  the  gospel,"  she 
said  solemnly,  "  and  he  has  shown  that  he  can  do 
good  even  to  his  enemies." 

Mr.  Buckley  arose,  and  listened  to  the  sound 
of  the  retreating  neighbors.  Then  he  opened  the 
door  of  the  closet.  Watson  and  George  jumped 
out  joyfully,  half  smothered  though  they  were, 
and  began  to  overwhelm  the  old  man  with 
thanks  for  their  deliverance. 


236  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

He  drew  himself  up,  however,  and  refused 
their  proffered  hand  shakes.  There  waa  a  stern 
look  on  his  usually  gentle  face. 

"  I  may  have  saved  your  necks,"  he  said,  "  be- 
cause I  would  sacrifice  no  human  life  voluntarily, 
but  I  do  not  forget  that  you  are  enemies  who 
have  entered  the  South  to  do  us  all  the  harm  you 
can." 

"  Come,"  said  Watson,  "  it's  a  mere  difference 
of  opinion.  I  don't  care  what  happens,  George 
and  I  will  never  be  anything  else  than  your  best 
friends ! " 

"  That  is  true,"  cried  George ;  "  you  can't  call 
us  enemies ! " 

The  manner  of  the  minister  softened  visibly ; 
even  Miss  Cynthia  looked  less  aggressive  than 
before. 

"Well,  we  won't  discuss  politics,"  answered 
Mr.  Buckley.  "  You  have  as  much  right  to  your 
opinions  as  I  have  to  mine.  But  I  think  I  have 
done  all  I  could  be  expected  to  do  for  you. 
Here,  take  this  key,  which  unlocks  the  door  of 
my  barn,  and  crawl  up  into  the  hayloft  where 
you  can  spend  the  night.  If  you  are  there,  how- 
ever, when  I  come  to  feed  the  horse,  at  seven 


In  Greatest  Peril  237 

o'clock  to-morrow  morning,  I  will  not  consider  it 
necessary  to  keep  silent  to  my  neighbors." 

"  Never  fear,"  said  Watson,  in  genial  tones ; 
"  we'll  be  away  by  daylight.  Good-bye,  and 
God  bless  you.  You  have  done  something  to- 
night that  will  earn  our  everlasting  gratitude, 
little  as  that  means.  Some  day  this  wretched 
war  will  be  over — and  then  I  hope  to  have  the 
honor  of  shaking  you  by  the  hand,  and  calling 
you  my  friend." 

"Watson  and  George  were  soon  safely  ensconced 
for  the  night  in  the  minister's  hayloft,  with 
Waggie  slumbering  peacefully  on  top  of  a  mound 
of  straw. 

"  I  think  we  are  more  comfortable  than  our 
pursuers  who  are  running  around  the  country," 
said  George.  He  was  stretched  out  next  to 
Watson  on  the  hay,  and  over  him  was  an  old 
horse-blanket. 

"  Thanks  to  dear  old  Buckley,"  answered  Wat- 
son. "He  is  a  real  Southerner — generous  and 
kind  of  heart.  Ah,  George,  it's  a  shame  that  the 
Americans  of  one  section  can't  be  friends  with 
the  Americans  of  the  other  section." 

Then  they  went  to  sleep,  and  passed  as  dream- 


238  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

less  and  refreshing  a  night  as  if  there  were  no  dan- 
gers for  the  morrow.  At  the  break  of  day  they 
were  up  again,  and  out  of  the  barn,  after  leaving 
the  key  in  the  door. 

"  I  feel  like  a  general  who  has  no  plan  of  cam- 
paign whatever,"  observed  "Watson,  as  he  gazed 
at  the  minister's  residence,  in  the  uncanny  morn- 
ing light,  and  saw  that  no  one  had  as  yet 
arisen. 

"I  guess  the  campaign  will  have  to  develop 
itself,"  answered  George.  The  night's  rest,  and 
the  good  supper  before  it,  had  made  a  new  boy 
of  him.  Twelve  hours  previously  he  had  been 
exhausted  ;  now  he  felt  in  the  mood  to  undergo 
anything. 

The  two  walked  out  of  the  garden,  accom- 
panied by  Waggie,  and  so  on  until  they  reached 
an  open  field.  Here  they  sat  down,  on  the  limb 
of  a  dead  and  stricken  tree,  and  discussed  what 
they  were  to  do. 

"We  don't  know,"  mused  Watson,  "whether 
any  of  our  party  have  been  caught  or  not.  But 
one  thing  is  as  certain  as  sunrise.  Just  as  soon 
as  the  morning  is  well  advanced  the  pursuers 
will  begin  their  work  again,  and  they  will  have 


In  Greatest  Peril  239 

all  the  advantage — ^you  and  I  all  the  disadvan- 
tage." 

"  The  men  will  be  on  horseback,  too,"  added 
George,  "  while  we  will  be  on  foot.  We  must 
remember  that." 

"Jove,"  cried  "Watson,  giving  his  knee  a 
vigorous  slap.     "  I've  got  an  idea." 

"  Out  with  it,"  said  George. 

"  Listen,"  went  on  his  friend.  "  Here  is  the 
situation.  If  we  try  to  push  to  the  westward,  to 
join  Mitchell's  forces,  in  broad  daylight,  or  even 
at  night,  we  are  pretty  sure  to  be  captured  if 
we  try  to  palm  ourselves  off  as  Kentucky  South- 
erners. If  we  hide  in  the  woods,  and  keep  away 
from  people,  we  will  simply  starve  to  death — 
and  that  won't  be  much  of  an  improvement. 
That  Kentucky  story  won't  work  now  ;  it  has 
been  used  too  much  as  it  is.  Therefore,  if  we 
are  to  escape  arrest,  we  must  change  our  char- 
acters." 

"  Change  our  characters  ? "  repeated  George, 
in  wonderment. 

"  Exactly.  Suppose  that  we  boldly  move 
through  the  country  as  two  professional  beggars, 
and  thus  gradually  edge  our  way  to  the  west- 


240  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

ward,  without  appearing  to  do  so.  You  can  sing 
negro  songs,  can't  you  ?  " 

"  Yes ;  and  other  songs,  too." 

"  That's  good.  And  Waggie  has  some  tricks, 
hasn't  he  ?  " 

"  lie  can  play  dead  dog — and  say  his  prayers 
— and  howl  when  I  sing — and  do  some  other 
tricks." 

"Then  I've  got  the  whole  scheme  in  my 
mind,"  said  Watson,  with  enthusiasm.  "  Let  me 
play  a  blind  man,  with  you  as  my  leader.  I 
think  I  can  fix  my  eyes  in  the  right  way.  We 
can  go  from  farm  to  farm,  from  house  to  house, 
begging  a  meal,  and  you  can  sing,  and  put  the 
dog  through  his  tricks.  People  are  not  apt  to 
ask  the  previous  history  of  beggars — nor  do  I 
think  any  one  will  be  likely  to  connect  us  with 
the  train-robbers." 

George  clapped  his  hands. 

"  That's  fine  !  "  he  said.  There  was  a  novelty 
about  the  proposed  plan  that  strongly  appealed 
to  his  spirit  of  adventure. 

Watson's  face  suddenly  clouded. 

"  Come  to  think  of  it,"  he  observed,  "  the  com- 
bination  of  a   man,  a  boy  and  a  dog  will  be 


In  Greatest  Peril  241 

rather  suspicious,  even  under  our  new  disguise. 
Remember  Farmer  Jason's  letter  last  night." 

"That's  all  very  Avell,"  retorted  George,  who 
had  fallen  in  love  with  the  beggar  scheme,  "  but 
if  we  get  away  from  this  particular  neighbor- 
hood the  people  won't  have  heard  anything  about 
a  dog  or  a  boy.  They  will  only  know  that  some 
Northern  spies  are  at  large — and  they  won't  be 
suspicious  of  a  blind  man  and  his  friends." 

"  I  reckon  you're  right,"  said  "Watson,  after  a 
little  thought.  "Let  us  get  away  from  here, 
before  it  grows  lighter,  and  put  the  neighbors 
behind  us." 

The  man  and  boy,  and  the  telltale  dog,  jumped 
to  their  feet. 

"  Good-bye,  Mr.  Buckley,"  murmured  Watson, 
as  he  took  a  last  look  at  the  minister's  house, 
"  and  heaven  bless  you  for  one  of  the  best  men 
that  ever  lived  !  " 

They  were  hurrying  on  the  next  moment,  nor 
did  they  stop  ^mtil  they  had  put  six  or  seven 
miles  between  themselves  and  the  Buckley  home. 
The  sun,  directly  away  from  which  they  had 
been  moving,  was  now  shining  brightly  in  the 
heavens,   as  it  looked  down  benevolently  upon 


242  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

the  well-soaked  earth.  They  had  now  reached  a 
plantation  of  some  two  hundred  acres  or  more,  in 
the  centre  of  which  was  a  low,  long  brick  house 
with  a  white  portico  in  front.  They  quickly 
passed  from  the  roadway  into  the  place,  and 
moved  up  an  avenue  of  magnolia  trees.  When 
they  reached  the  portico  a  lazy  looking  negro 
came  shuffling  out  of  the  front  door.  He  gazed, 
in  a  supercilious  fashion,  at  the  two  whites  and 
the  dog. 

"Wha'  foah  you  fellows  gwine  come  heh 
foah  ?  "  he  demanded,  in  a  rich,  pleasant  voice, 
but  with  an  unwelcome  scowl  upon  his  face. 

"We  just  want  a  little  breakfast,"  answered 
Watson.  He  was  holding  the  boy's  arm,  and 
looked  the  picture  of  a  blind  mendicant. 

The  darky  gave  them  a  scornful  glance.  "  Git 
away  from  heh,  yoh  white  trash,"  he  com- 
manded. "We  doan  want  no  beggars  'round 
heh ! " 

Watson  was  about  to  flare  up  angrily,  at  the 
impudent  tone  of  this  order,  but  when  he  thought 
of  the  wretched  appearance  which  he  and  George 
presented  he  was  not  surprised  at  the  coolness  of 
their  reception.     For  not  only  were  their  clothes 


In  Greatest  Peril  243 

remarkable  to  look  upon,  but  they  were  without 
hats.  Even  Waggie  seemed  a  bedraggled  little 
vagabond. 

But  George  rose  valiantly  to  the  occasion.  He 
began  to  sing  "  Old  Folks  at  Home,"  in  a  clear 
sweet  voice,  and,  when  he  had  finished,  he  gave 
a  spirited  rendition  of  "  Dixie."  When  "  Dixie  " 
was  over  he  made  a  signal  to  Waggie,  who 
walked  up  and  down  the  pathway  on  his  hind 
legs  with  a  comical  air  of  pride. 

The  expression  of  the  pompous  negro  had 
undergone  a  great  change.  His  black  face  was 
wreathed  in  smiles  ;  his  eyes  glistened  with  de- 
light ;  his  large  white  teeth  shone  in  the  morning 
light  like  so  many  miniature  tombstones. 

"  Ya !  ya !  ya !  "  he  laughed.  "  Doan  go 
way.     Ya  !  ya !  Look  at  de  dog !  Ho !  ho ! " 

He  reentered  the  house,  but  was  soon  back  on 
the  portico.  With  him  came  a  handsome  middle- 
aged  man,  evidently  the  master  of  the  house,  and 
a  troop  of  children.  They  were  seven  in  all,  four 
girls  and  three  boys,  and  they  ranged  in  ages  all 
the  way  from  five  to  seventeen  years. 

No  sooner  did  he  see  them  than  George  began 
another  song — "Nicodemus,   the  Slave."    This 


244  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

he  followed  by  "  Massa's  in  the  cold,  cold  ground." 
As  he  ended  the  second  number  the  children 
clapped  their  hands,  and  the  master  of  the  house 
shouted  "  Bravo  !  "  Then  the  boy  proceeded  to 
put  Waggie  through  his  tricks.  The  dog  rolled 
over  and  lay  flat  on  the  ground,  with  his  paws  in 
the  air  as  if  he  were  quite  dead ;  then  at  a  signal 
from  his  master  he  sprang  to  his  feet  and  began 
to  dance.  He  also  performed  many  other  clever 
tricks  that  sent  the  children  into  an  ecstasy  of 
delight.  Watson  nearly  forgot  his  role  of  blind 
man,  more  than  once,  in  his  desire  to  see  the  ac- 
complishments of  the  terrier.  But  he  saved  him- 
self just  in  time,  and  contrived  to  impart  to 
his  usually  keen  eyes  a  dull,  staring  expres- 
sion. 

By  the  time  "Waggie  had  given  his  last  trick 
the  young  people  had  left  the  portico  and  were 
crowding  around  him  with  many  terms  of  en- 
dearment. One  of  them,  seizing  the  tiny  animal 
in  her  arras,  ran  with  him  into  the  house,  where 
he  must  have  been  given  a  most  generous  meal, 
for  he  could  eat  nothing  more  for  the  next 
twenty-four  hours. 

The  handsome  man  came  off  the  portico  and 


In  Greatest  Peril  245 

looked  at  the  two  supposed  beggars  with  an  ex- 
pression of  sympathy. 

"  You  have  a  nice  voice,  my  boy,"  he  said, 
turning  to  George.  "  Can't  you  make  better  use 
of  it  than  this  ?  "Why  don't  you  join  the  army, 
and  sing  to  the  soldiers  ?  " 

George  might  have  answered  that  he  al- 
ready belonged  to  one  army,  and  did  not  feel  like 
joining  another,  but  he  naturally  thought  he  had 
better  not  mention  this.  He  evaded  the  ques- 
tion, and  asked  if  he  and  the  "  blind  man  "  might 
have  some  breakfast. 

"  That  you  can ! "  said  the  master,  very  cor- 
dially. "Here,  Pompey,  take  these  fellows 
around  to  the  kitchen  and  tell  Black  Dinah  to 
give  them  a  good  meal.  And  when  they  are 
through  bring  them  into  my  study.  I  want  the 
boy  to  sing  some  more." 

The  black  man  with  the  white  teeth  escorted 
the  strangers  to  the  kitchen  of  the  mansion, 
where  an  ebony  cook  treated  them  to  a  typical 
southern  feast.  It  was  well  that  Black  Dinah 
had  no  unusual  powers  of  reasoning  or  percep- 
tion, for  the  beggars  forgot,  more  than  once,  to 
keep  up  their  assumed  roles.     "Watson  found  no 


246  Clmsing  an  Iron  Horse 

diificulty  in  eating,  despite  his  supposed  infirmity, 
and  George  came  within  an  inch  of  presenting  a 
Confederate  bill  to  Madame  Dinah.  But  he  sud- 
denly reflected  that  paupers  were  not  supposed 
to  "  tip  "  servants,  and  he  stuffed  the  money  back 
into  his  trousers  pocket. 

When  they  had  finished  Pompey  escorted  them 
to  the  study  of  the  master  of  the  house.  It  Avas 
a  large  room,  filled  with  books  and  family  por- 
traits, and  in  it  were  assembled  the  host  (Mr. 
Carter  Peyton)  and  his  children.  The  latter  were 
still  engaged  in  petting  "Waggie,  who  began  to 
look  a  trifle  bored.  From  the  manner  in  which 
they  ruled  the  house  it  was  plain  that  their 
father  was  a  widower.  At  the  request  of  Mr. 
Peyton,  George  sang  his  whole  repertoire  of 
melodies,  and  the  dog  once  more  repeated  his 
tricks.  Watson  was  given  a  seat  in  one  corner  of 
the  study.     "  It's  time  we  were  off,"  he  thought. 

As  Waggie  finished  his  performance  Watson 
rose,  and  stretched  out  his  hand  towards  George. 

"  Let's  be  going,"  he  said. 

"  All  right,"  answered  George.  He  was  about 
to  say  good-bye,  and  lead  his  companion  to  the 
door,  when  a  turbaned  negress  entered  the  room. 


In  Greatest  Peril  247 

"  Massa  Peyton,  Massa  Charles  Jason  done  ride 
oveh  heh  ta  see  you," 

"  Is  he  here  now  ?  "  asked  Mr.  Peyton.  "  Then 
show  him  in.  I  wonder  what's  the  matter  ?  It 
is  not  often  that  Jason  gets  this  far  away  from 
home."     The  girl  retired. 

Charles  Jason !  Where  had  the  two  Northern- 
ers heard  that  name  ?  Then  it  flashed  upon  them 
almost  at  the  same  instant.  Charles  Jason  was 
the  name  of  the  farmer  who  had  warned  Mr. 
Buckley  about  them.  If  he  saw  them  both,  and 
in  company  with  the  dog,  they  would  be  under 
suspicion  at  once. 

George  drew  nearer  to  "Watson  and  whispered 
one  word :  "  Danger ! "  He  picked  up  Waggie 
and  put  him  in  his  pocket. 

"We  must  be  going,"  reiterated  Watson, 
moving  towards  the  door  with  unusual  celerity 
for  a  blind  man  who  had  found  himself  in  an  un- 
familiar apartment. 

"Don't  go  yet,"  urged  Mr.  Peyton,  seeking  to 
detain  the  supposed  vagabonds ;  "  I  want  Mr. 
Jason  to  hear  some  of  these  plantation  songs. 
I'll  pay  you  well  for  your  trouble,  my  boy — and 
you  can  take  away  all  the  food  you  want." 


248  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

"  I'm  sorry,"  began  George,  "  but  - 


As  the  last  word  was  uttered  Farmer  Charles 
Jason  was  ushered  into  the  study.  He  was  a 
chubby  little  man  of  fifty  or  fifty-five,  with  red 
hair,  red  face  and  a  body  which  suggested  the 
figure  of  a  plump  sparrow — a  kindly  man,  no 
doubt,  in  the  ordinary  course  of  events,  but  the 
last  person  on  earth  that  the  two  fugitives  wanted 
to  see. 

"  Well,  this  is  a  surprise,"  said  the  master  of 
the  house,  very  cordially.  "  It's  not  often  you 
favor  us  with  a  visit  as  far  down  the  highway  as 
this." 

"  "When  a  fellow  has  gout  as  much  as  I  have 
nowadays,"  returned  Jason,  "  he  doesn't  get  away 
from  home  a  great  deal.  But  something  impor- 
tant made  me  come  out  to-day." 

"Nothing  wrong,  I  hope?"  asked  Mr.  Pey- 
ton. 

.  George  took  hold  of  Watson's  left  hand,  and 
edged  towards  the  open  door.  But  Mr.  Peyton, 
not  waiting  for  Jason  to  answer  his  question, 
leaped  forward  and  barred  the  way. 

"  You  fellows  must  not  go  until  Mr.  Jason  has 
heard  those  negro  melodies." 


In  Greatest  Peril  249 

Owing  to  the  number  of  people  in  the  room 
(for  all  the  children  were  there),  Jason  had  not 
singled  out  the  Northerners  for  any  attention. 
But  now  he  naturally  looked  at  them.  There 
was  nothing  suspicious  in  his  glance;  it  was 
merely  good-natured  and  patronizing. 

"  Yes,  don't  go,"  cried  one  of  the  children,  a 
pretty  little  girl  of  ten  or  eleven.  "  Show  Mr. 
Jason  how  the  doggie  can  say  his  prayers."  She 
hauled  Waggie  from  George's  coat,  and  held  him 
in  front  of  the  farmer.  George  seized  Waggie 
and  returned  him  to  his  pocket.  There  was  an 
angry  flush  on  the  boy's  face.  He  had  no  kind 
feelings  for  pretty  Miss  Peyton. 

Jason's  expression  underwent  a  complete  trans- 
formation when  he  saw  the  dog.  An  idea  seemed 
to  strike  him  with  an  unexpected  but  irresistible 
force.  The  sight  of  the  dog  had  changed  the 
whole  current  of  his  thoughts.  He  stared  first 
at  Watson,  and  then  at  George,  with  a  frown 
that  grew  deeper  and  deeper.  Then  he  turned 
to  Mr.  Peyton. 

"I  came  over  to  tell  you  about  the  Yankee 
spies  who  are  loose  in  the  county,"  he  cried 
quickly,  in  excited  tones.     "  One  of  them  was  a 


250  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

boy  with  a  dog.  My  son  saw  them — and  I  be- 
lieve this  to  be  the  lad.     I " 

The  farmer  got  no  further. 

"  Come,  George  ! "  suddenly  shouted  "Watson. 

At  the  back  of  the  study  there  was  a  large 
glass  door  leading  out  to  the  rear  porch  of  the 
house.  He  ran  to  this,  found  that  it  would  not 
open,  and  so  deliberately  hit  some  of  the  panes  a 
great  blow  with  his  foot. 

Crash !  The  glass  flew  here  and  there  in  a 
hundred  pieces.  The  next  moment  the  ex-blind 
man  had  pushed  through  the  ragged  edges  of  the 
remaining  glass,  and  was  scurrying  across  a  gar- 
den at  the  back  of  the  house.  After  him  tore 
George.  In  going  through  the  door  he  had  cut 
his  cheek  on  one  of  the  projecting  splinters,  but 
in  the  excitement  he  was  quite  unconscious  of 
the  fact.  The  children  and  their  father  stood 
looking  at  Jason  in  a  dazed,  enquiring  way. 
They  had  not  heard  of  the  locomotive  chase; 
they  knew  nothing  of  Northern  spies;  they  did 
not  understand  that  the  farmer  had  suddenly 
jumped  at  a  very  correct  but  startling  conclusion. 

"  After  them ! "  shouted  Jason.  "  They  are 
spies ! " 


In  Greatest  Peril  251 

By  this  time  the  whole  house  was  in  an  up- 
roar. Most  of  the  children  were  in  tears  (being 
frightened  out  of  their  wits  at  the  mention  of 
terrible  spies),  and  the  servants  were  running  to 
and  fro  wringing  their  hands  helplessly,  without 
understanding  exactly  what  had  happened.  Ja- 
son tore  to  the  broken  door,  broke  off  some  more 
glass  with  the  end  of  the  riding  whip  he  held  in 
his  hand,  and  was  quickly  past  this  bristling  bar- 
rier and  out  on  the  back  porch.  Mr.  Peyton 
was  behind  him. 

At  the  end  of  the  garden,  nearly  a  hundred 
yards  away,  was  an  old-fashioned  hedge  of  box, 
which  had  reached,  in  the  course  of  many  years, 
a  height  of  twelve  feet  or  more.  A  little  dis- 
tance beyond  this  box  was  a  wood  of  pine-trees. 
As  Jason  reached  the  porch  he  could  see  the  two 
Northerners  fairly  squeeze  their  way  through  the 
hedge,  and  disappear  on  the  other  side.  He 
leaped  from  the  porch,  and  started  to  run  down 
the  garden.  But  his  enemy,  the  gout,  gave  him 
a  Avarning  twinge,  and  he  was  quickly  outdis- 
tanced by  Mr.  Peyton,  who  sped  onward,  with 
several  negroes  at  his  heels. 

The  party  continued  down  the  garden  until 


2^2  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

they  reached  the  hedge;  then  they  ran  to  the 
right  for  a  short  distance,  scurried  through  an 
arched  opening  in  the  green  box,  and  thus 
reached  the  outskirts  of  the  pine  woods.  Next 
they  began  to  search  through  the  trees.  But 
not  a  sight  of  the  fugitives  could  they  obtain. 
After  they  had  tramped  over  the  whole  woods, 
which  covered  about  forty  acres,  they  emerged 
into  open  fields.  Not  a  trace  of  the  runaways  ! 
They  went  back  and  made  a  fresh  search  among 
the  pines ;  they  sent  negroes  in  every  direction  ; 
yet  the  result  was  the  same.  When  Mr.  Peyton 
returned,  very  hot  and  disgusted,  to  his  usually 
quiet  study  he  found  Charles  Jason  lying  on  the 
sofa  in  an  agony  of  gout.  Several  of  the  chil- 
dren were  near  him. 

"  Oh,  papa,  I  hope  you  did  not  catch  them," 
cried  one  of  the  latter.  She  was  the  little  girl 
who  had  pulled  Waggie  from  George's  pocket. 

Mr.  Peyton  laughed,  in  spite  of  himself. 

"Have  you  fallen  in  love,  with  the  boy  who 
sang,  Laura  ? "  he  asked,  with  a  twinkle  in  his 
eye. 

"  No,"  said  Miss  Laura,  indignantly,  "  but  Mr. 
Jason  says  they  were  spies — and  spies  are  always 


In  Greatest  Peril  253 

hung — and  I  wouldn't  like  to  see  that  nice  dog 
hung." 

The  father  burst  into  a  peal  of  merriment, 

"  Don't  worry,"  he  said ;  "  I  reckon  the  dog 
would  be  pardoned — on  the  ground  that  he  was 
led  astray  by  others  older  than  himself.  Any- 
way, the  rascals  have  gotten  away  as  completely 
as  if  they  had  disappeared  from  the  face  of  the 
earth." 

Jason  groaned.  "Whether  the  sound  was  caused 
by  pain,  or  disappointment  at  the  escape  of  the 
spies,  or  both,  it  would  have  been  hard  to  tell. 
When  he  was  taken  to  his  home,  not  until  the 
next  day,  he  vowed  he  would  never  more  chase 
anything,  be  it  even  a  chicken. 

And  where  were  the  missing  man,  boy,  and 
dog?  Much  nearer  to  the  Peyton  house  than 
any  of  its  inmates  fancied.  When  Watson  and 
George  ran  down  the  garden  their  only  idea  was 
to  get  as  far  off  from  the  house  as  possible,  al- 
though they  believed  that  they  were  pretty  sure 
to  be  captured  in  the  end.  Their  pistols  were 
still  useless ;  they  did  not  know  the  geography  of 
the  neighborhood ;  there  were  enemies  every- 
where.    But   after   they   squeezed   through   the 


254  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

hedge,  they  found  in  front  of  them,  between  the 
box  and  the  edge  of  the  woods,  a  little  patch  of 
muddy,  lincultivated  land,  devoted  to  the  refuse 
of  a  farm.  A  trash  heap,  a  broken  plough, 
empty  boxes,  barrels,  broken  china,  and  other 
useless  things  betokened  a  sort  of  rustic  junk- 
shop — a  receptacle  for  objects  which  had  seen 
their  best  days. 

Among  this  collection,  the  quick  eye  of  "Wat- 
son caught  sight  of  a  large  molasses  hogshead, 
now  empty  and  with  its  open  end  turned  up- 
wards. He  pulled  George  by  the  sleeve,  pointed 
to  the  hogshead,  and  then  looked  at  the  hedge, 
as  he  said,  breathlessly :  "  This  is  big  enough  to 
hold  us  both  ;  jump  in — the  hedge  is  so  high  they 
can't  see  us  from  the  house ! " 

There  was  no  chance  to  say  more.  In  a  twin- 
kling the  two  had  vaulted  into  the  huge  barrel, 
and  were  fairly  squatting  at  the  bottom.  Above 
them  was  the  open  sky  and  the  warm  sun.  Any 
pursuer  who  chose  to  stand  on  tiptoe  and  look  in 
would  have  been  rewarded  for  his  pains.  But 
Watson  calculated  that  no  one  would  think  of 
the  hogshead  for  the  very  reason  that  it  stood  out 
so  prominently  amid  all  the  trash  of  this  dump- 


In  Greatest  Peril  255 

ing  ground.  No  one,  in  fact,  gave  a  thought  to 
the  spot ;  it  suggested  nothing  in  the  way  of  a 
hiding-place.  Once  a  negro  who  had  joined  the 
hunt  brushed  by  the  hogshead,  much  to  the  ter- 
ror of  its  occupants,  but  he  gave  it  no  heed.  A 
few  minutes  later  Mr.  Peyton  stopped  within  a 
few  feet  of  it,  to  speak  to  his  white  overseer. 

"We  have  searched  the  wood  thoroughly," 
said  the  overseer, "  but  they  are  gone — that's  sure." 

"  Well,  they  have  gotten  out  of  the  place," 
observed  the  master.  "  But  they  won't  get  many 
miles  away.  I  want  you  to  take  the  sorrel  mare 
and  spread  the  alarm  through  the  neighbor- 
hood." 

"  Yes,  sir." 

Hardly  had  Mr.  Peyton  and  his  overseer 
hurried  away  before  Waggie  indulged  in  a  little 
yelp,  to  ease  his  own  feelings.  He  found  things 
rather  cramped  at  the  bottom  of  the  hogshead, 
to  which  he  had  been  transferred  from  George's 
pocket ;  he  longed  to  have  more  leeway  for  his 
tiny  legs. 

"  If  you  had  given  that  bark  a  minute  ago," 
muttered  George,  "  you  would  have  betrayed  us. 
Master  Waggie." 


256  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

"  Oh  !  oh  !  oh ! "  whispered  Watson ;  "  I  am 
so  cramped  and  stiff  I  don't  know  what  will  be- 
come of  me.  This  is  the  most  painful  experience 
of  the  war." 

There  would  have  been  something  amusing  in 
the  position  of  the  hiders  if  it  had  seemed  less 
dangerous.  "Watson  was  now  sitting  with  legs 
crossed,  in  tailor  fashion ;  on  his  lap  was  George ; 
and  upon  George's  knee  jumped  Waggie. 

"  You're  getting  tired  too  soon,"  said  George. 
"  "We  will  be  here  some  time  yet." 

He  was  quite  right,  for  it  was  not  until  dusk 
that  they  dared  leave  their  curious  refuge. 
Sometimes  they  stood  up,  when  they  got  abso- 
lutely desperate,  and  had  it  not  been  that  the  tall 
hedge  protected  him,  the  head  of  Watson  would 
assuredly  have  been  seen  from  the  Peyton  man- 
sion. At  last  they  cautiously  abandoned  the 
hogshead,  and  crept  into  the  pines  in  front  of 
them.  When  it  was  pitch  dark  the  fugitives 
pushed  forward  in  a  northwestwardly  direction, 
until  they  reached  a  log  cabin,  at  a  distance  of 
about  four  miles  from  their  point  of  departure. 
Within  the  place  a  light  was  cheerily  burn- 
ing. 


In  Greatest  Peril  257 

"  Shall  we  knock  at  the  door  ?  "  asked  Watson, 
in  some  doubt. 

"  I'm  very  hungry,"  laughed  George.  "  I  think 
I  could  risk  knocking  anywhere — if  I  could  only 
get  something  to  eat." 

"  Well,  we  might  as  well  be  hung  for  sheep  as 
lambs,"  observed  Watson.     "  Let  us  try  it." 

He  had  begun  to  think  that  it  was  only  the 
question  of  a  few  hours  before  he  and  George 
would  be  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 

They  knocked  at  the  door.  It  was  half  opened 
by  a  long,  lanky  man,  with  a  scraggy  chin- 
beard,  who  looked  like  the  customary  pictures  of 
"  Uncle  Sam." 

"  What  is  it  ?  "  he  asked  the  travelers.  There 
was  a  sound  of  voices  within. 

Was  it  prudent  to  play  the  blind  man  once 
again  ?  Or  had  this  fellow  heard  of  the  excite- 
ment at  the  Peyton  mansion?  Watson  be- 
thought himself  of  a  method  of  finding  out 
whether  or  not  he  should  be  endowed  with 
sight. 

"  Are  we  anywhere  near  Squire  Peyton's  ?  "  he 
demanded. 

"  'Bout  four  miles  off,  or  five  miles  by  the  road 


258  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

along  the  creek,"  said  this  Southern  "Uncle 
Sam." 

"Do  you  know  if  he's  living  at  his  place 
now  ?  " 

"  He  was  there  three  days  ago,  whan  I  driv 
over  ta  sell  him  some  shotes,"  returned  "  Uncle 
Sam."     "  Reckon  he  must  be  there  still." 

"  Humph  !  "  thought  Watson  ;  "  this  fellow 
hasn't  heard  anything  about  the  Peyton  fracas. 
I'll  lose  my  sight  once  again." 

He  clutched  George's  hand  in  a  helpless  fash- 
ion, and  poured  forth  a  tale  of  woe.  He  was 
blind  and  poor,  he  said;  he  and  his  nephew 
(meaning  George)  were  in  need  of  food  and 
shelter. 

"  I'll  sing  for  you,"  said  George. 

"  Tarnation  pumpkins,"  cried  Uncle  Sam ;  "  I 
hate  squalin'.  But  come  in.  I  never  shut  my 
door  on  anybody." 

He  opened  the  door  the  whole  way.  The  two 
Northerners  and  the  dog  walked  into  the  daz- 
zling light  made  by  a  great  wood-fire — and  con- 
fronted five  Confederate  soldiers  and  an  ofiicer 
who  were  toasting  their  feet  at  the  hearth ! 
They  all  glanced  at  the  newcomers,  who  dearly 


In  Greatest  Peril  259 

regretted,  when  too  late,  that  they  had  entered. 
The  officer  stared  first  at  Watson  and  then  at 
George  with  the  air  of  a  man  who  is  searching 
for  some  one.  Uncle  Sam  introduced  them  to 
the  party  in  a  manner  more  vigorous  than  polite. 

"  Here's  a  couple  o'  beggars,"  he  said.  "  Ma, 
get  'em  somethin'  to  eat  I " 

"  Ma,"  who  was  his  wife,  came  bustling  out  of 
the  second  room,  or  kitchen,  of  the  cabin.  She 
was  red  in  the  face,  and  of  generous  proportions. 

"  Look  here,  pop,"  she  cried,  "  do  you  expect 
me  to  cook  for  a  hotel  ?  I've  just  been  feedin' 
these  soldiers,  and  now  you  want  me  to  get 
victuals  for  beggars." 

When  the  plump  hostess  saw  the  blind  man, 
the  boy  and  the  dog,  her  face  softened.  She 
went  back  to  the  kitchen,  and  soon  returned 
with  some  coarse  but  highly  acceptable  food, 
which  Avas  gratefully  eaten  by  George  and  Watson. 

"  Do  you  two  tramp  through  the  country  to- 
gether?" asked  the  officer.  He  was  addressed 
by  his  men  as  Captain  Harris.  Every  line  and 
feature  of  his  clean-shaven  face  denoted  shrewd- 
ness. 

"  Yes,"  answered  Watson.     "  My  nephew  sings 


26o  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

— the  dog  has  some  tricks — we  make  a  little 
money — even,  in  war  time."  He  would  put  the 
best  face  possible  on  this  trying  situation. 

"  You  have  no  home  ?  "  went  on  the  oflB^cer,  in 
a  sympathetic  voice. 

"  None." 

"  Where  did  you  come  from  before  you  took 
to  begging  ?  " 

Watson  hesitated  for  a  second.  Then  he  said : 
"  Lynchburg,  Virginia."  It  was  the  only  place 
he  could  think  of  at  that  moment,  and  it  seemed 
far  enough  off  to  be  safe. 

"  I  spent  three  weeks  in  Lynchburg  last  year," 
said  Captain  Harris.  "What  part  of  the  town 
did  you  live  in  ?  " 

This  time  George  came  to  the  rescue.  "On 
Main  Street,"  he  answered.  He  had  known  a 
boy  in  Cincinnati  whose  mother  had  once  resided 
in  Lynchburg,  and  he  had  heard  the  lad  speak  of 
a  Main  Street  in  that  town. 

"  On  Main  Street,"  repeated  the  Captain. 
Was  the  look  that  passed  quickly  across  his  face 
one  of  surprise  or  disappointment  ? 

"  Yes,  on  Main  Street,"  asserted  George.  He 
felt  very  sure  of  himself  now. 


In  Greatest  Peril  261 

"How  near  were  you  to  the  Sorrel  Horse 
Hotel?"  asked  the  Captain,  after  a  brief 
pause. 

"  About  two  streets  away,  eh  George  ?  "  said 
Watson.  He  had,  very  naturally,  never  heard 
of  the  Sorrel  Horse,  and  he  knew  nothing  of 
Lynchburg,  but  it  would  be  fatal  to  show  any 
ignorance  on  the  subject. 

"Yes,  just  about  two  streets  away,"  agreed 
the  boy. 

The  men  were  all  sitting  near  the  blazing  fire. 
Suddenly  Captain  Harris,  without  saying  a  word, 
lifted  his  right  arm  and  sent  his  fist  flying  to- 
wards the  face  of  Watson,  who  sat  near  him. 
With  an  exclamation  of  anger  Watson  jumped 
to  his  feet,  just  in  time  to  avoid  the  blow. 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  "  he  cried,  as  he  glared 
at  his  antagonist. 

The  Captain  smiled.  He  did  not  seem  at  all 
pugnacious  now. 

"  I  mean,"  he  answered,  "  that  I  have  proved 
my  suspicions  to  be  true.  I  thought  you  were 
not  blind — and  I  find  that  you  still  have  enough 
sight  left  to  see  a  blow  when  it  is  coming  to 
you ! " 


262  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

"Watson  could  cheerfully  have  whipped  himself 
for  his  blunder. 

"  Further,"  went  on  the  officer,  in  a  politely- 
taunting  tone  that  was  very  provoking,  "  I  find 
that  neither  you  nor  the  boy  ever  lived  in  Lynch- 
burg, for  the  simple  reason  that  there  is  no  Sorrel 
Horse  Hotel  in  that  place,  and  there  never  was ! " 

How  nicely  had  he  planned  this  little  trap! 
And  how  foolish  the  two  fugitives  felt. 

"And  now,  my  dear  beggars,"  went  on  the 
Captain,  in  the  same  ironical  vein,  "  allow  me  to 
say  that  I  don't  believe  you  are  beggars  at  all. 
I  strongly  suspect  that  you  are  members  of  this 
engine-stealing  expedition  which  has  come  to 
grief.  This  afternoon  I  was  sent  out  from 
Chattanooga,  among  others,  to  scour  the  country, 
and  it  will  be  my  duty  to  march  you  there  to- 
morrow morning." 

There  was  a  pause  painful  in  its  intensity. 

"  Have  either  of  you  got  anything  to  say  ? " 
demanded  the  Captain. 

"  We  admit  nothing  1 "  said  "Watson. 

"I'm  not  surprised,"  answered  the  Captain. 
"  Your  offense  is  a  hanging  one.  But  you  were 
a  plucky  lot — that's  certain." 


CHAPTER  X 

FINAL  TRIALS 

The  next  morning  "Watson  and  George  Knight, 
with  the  faithful  Waggie  (who  was  destined  to 
remain  with  his  master  throughout  all  these  ad- 
ventures, in  which  he  had  played  his  own  little 
part),  were  taken  by  the  detachment  of  Con- 
federates to  Chattanooga.  Here  they  were 
placed  in  the  jail,  and  here  also,  in  the  course  of 
a  few  days,  were  brought  Andrews  and  the 
other  members  of  the  ill-fated  expedition.  For 
they  were  all  captured,  sooner  or  later,  as  might 
have  been  expected.  The  whole  South  rang 
with  the  story  of  the  engine  chase,  and  every 
effort  was  made  to  track  and  capture  the  cou- 
rageous Northerners. 

After  a  stay  of  several  weeks  in  Chattanooga 
the  party  were  taken  by  railroad  to  Madison,  in 
Georgia,  for  it  was  feared  that  General  Mitchell 
was  about  to  take  possession  of  the  former  place. 
In  a  few  days,  however,  when  the  danger  had 

263 


264  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

passed,  they  were  returned  to  Chattanooga.  It 
was  not  until  September  of  1863  that  this  city 
fell  into  the  hands  of  a  Union  force. 

Of  the  movements  and  separation  of  the 
prisoners  after  their  return  to  Chattanooga,  or 
of  the  experiences  of  some  of  them  in  Knoxville, 
it  is  not  necessary  to  make  detailed  mention. 
Andrews,  after  a  trial,  was  executed  in  Atlanta 
as  a  spy,  dying  like  a  brave  man,  and  seven  of 
his  companions,  condemned  by  a  court-martial, 
shared  the  same  fate.  It  was  the  fortune  of 
war.  George  could  never  dance,  as  he  had 
promised,  at  his  leader's  wedding. 

Let  us  change  the  scene  to  the  city  prison  of 
Atlanta,  where  the  remaining  fourteen  members 
of  the  expedition  were  to  be  found  in  the  fol- 
lowing October.  Among  them  were  Watson, 
George  Knight,  Jenks  and  Macgreggor.  Waggie, 
too,  was  still  in  evidence,  but  he  would  have 
found  life  rather  dreary  had  not  the  kind-hearted 
jailer  allowed  one  of  his  family  to  take  the  dog 
many  a  scamper  around  the  city. 

"  Poor  Andrews,"  said  Watson,  one  afternoon, 
"  it  is  hard  to  realize  that  he  and  seven  others 
of  us  have  gone." 


Final  Trials  265 

The  party  were  occupying  a  well-barred  room 
on  the  second  floor  of  the  prison.  This  second 
floor  comprised  four  rooms  for  prisoners,  two  on 
each  side  of  a  hallway.  In  the  hallway  was  a 
staircase  which  led  to  the  first  story,  where  the 
jailer  and  his  family  had  their  quarters.  Out- 
side the  building  was  a  yard  surrounded  by  a 
fence  about  nine  feet  high,  and  here  and  there  a 
soldier,  fully  armed,  was  on  guard. 

"  I  don't  want  to  be  doleful,  boys,"  said  Mac- 
greggor,  "  but  I  think  we  will  soon  follow 
Andrews.  As  the  days  rolled  on  and  we  heard 
no  more  of  any  trial  or  execution  I  began  to 
hope  that  the  Confederate  Government  had  for- 
gotten the  rest  of  us.  I  even  thought  it  possible 
we  might  be  exchanged  for  the  same  number  of 
Confederates  in  Northern  prisons,  and  thus  al- 
lowed to  go  back  to  our  army.  But  I've  kept 
my  eyes  and  ears  open — and  I  have  now  become 
anxious." 

"  Why  so  ?  "  asked  George.  The  boy  looked 
thin  and  very  pale,  after  his  long  confinement. 

"  I  heard  some  one — I  think  it  was  the  Provost- 
Marshal — talking  to  the  jailer  this  morning,  at 
the  front  door  of  the  prison.     I  was  looking  out 


266  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

of  the  window;  you  fellows  were  all  playing 
games.  '  Keep  a  very  strict  eye  on  those  engine- 
stealers,'  the  marshal  said ;  '  a  court  is  going  to 
try  them — and  you  know  what  that  means — 
death!  A  trial  will  be  nothing  more  than  a 
formality,  for  the  whole  fourteen  of  them  are 
spies,  under  the  rules  of  war.  They  were  soldiers 
who  entered  the  enemj'^'s  line  in  civilian  disguise. 
So  don't  let  them  get  away.'  " 

Macgreggor's  listeners  stirred  uneasily.  This 
was  not  what  might  be  called  pleasant  news. 

"Why  didn't  you  tell  us  before?"  asked 
Jenks. 

"  I  hadn't  the  heart  to,"  returned  Macgreggor. 
"  You  boys  were  all  so  cheerful." 

"Watson  cleared  his  voice. 

"  I  tell  you  what  it  is,  boys,"  he  whispered,  as 
he  gave  Waggie  a  mournful  pat ;  "  if  we  don't 
want  to  be  buried  in  an  Atlanta  graveyard  we 
must  escape !  " 

George's  white  face  flushed  at  the  thought. 
The  idea  of  liberty  was  dazzling,  after  so  many 
weary  days. 

"  Well,"  said  one  of  the  men,  in  the  same  low 
tone,  "  it's  better  to  escape,  and  run  the  risk  of 


Final  Trials  267 

failing  or  of  being  re-captured,  than  to  rot  here 
until  we  are  led  out  to  be  hanged." 

"  Let's  invent  a  plan  that  will  enable  us  not 
only  to  get  out,  but  to  stay  out,"  laughed  Jenks. 

There  was  dead  silence  for  nearly  ten  minutes. 
The  men,  who  had  been  sitting  on  the  floor 
watching  two  of  their  number  at  a  game  of 
checkers,  were  deep  in  thought.  At  last  "Watson 
opened  his  lips. 

"I  have  a  plan,"  he  whispered.  "Tell  me 
what  you  think  of  it.  You  know  that  about 
sunset  the  darkies  come  into  the  rooms  to  leave 
•us  our  supper.  The  jailer  stands  outside.  Then, 
later,  the  jailer  comes  and  takes  away  the  dishes. 
He  is  then  alone.  Suppose  we  seize  him,  gag 
him,  take  his  keys,  unlock  all  the  doors  on  this 
floor,  and  release  all  the  prisoners.  As  you  know, 
there  are  a  number  besides  our  own  party — 
whites  and  negroes.  All  this  must  be  quietly 
done,  however,  if  it  is  to  prove  successful.  Then 
we  can  go  down-stairs,  without  making  any 
noise,  overpower  the  seven  sentinels,  take  their 
guns,  and  make  off,  after  locking  up  these  gentle- 
men." 

Watson  went  further  into  details,  to  show  the 


268  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

probable  workings  of  his  scheme.  It  was  finally 
agreed  that  the  dash  was  well  worth  the  trial. 
As  Jenks  remarked :  "  It's  either  that  or  a  few 
feet  of  cold  rope,  and  a  coflS^n  !  " 

The  late  afternoon  of  the  next  day  was  fixed 
upon  for  the  escape.  In  addition  to  the  fourteen 
remaining  adventurers,  a  Union  captain  from 
East  Tennessee,  who  shared  the  room  with  them, 
was  to  be  associated  in  this  daring  enterprise.  It 
seemed  to  George  as  if  the  hour  would  never 
come ;  but  as  the  sun  began  to  sink  gradually 
towards  the  horizon  on  the  following  afternoon 
he  realized,  from  the  feverish  restlessness  of  the 
whole  party,  that  there  was  not  much  longer  to 
wait. 

"  Keep  up  your  nerve,  fellows,"  said  Watson, 
who  had  become  the  leader  of  the  party,  "  and 
remember  that  all  depends  upon  the  quietness 
with  which  we  conduct  things  on  this  floor,  so 
that  the  guard  below  won't  take  the  alarm." 

As  he  spoke  there  was  a  rattling  of  keys  and  a 
creaking  of  locks.  The  heavy  door  of  the  room 
opened,  and  in  walked  Waggie.  He  had  been 
having  a  walk,  with  a  daughter  of  the  jailer,  and 
one  of  the  negro  servants  had  taken  him  up-stairs 


Final  Trials  269 

and  unlocked  the  door.  The  next  moment  the 
key  was  turned;  the  prisoners  were  again  shut 
in  from  the  world. 

"  Poor  little  Waggie,"  said  Macgreggor.  "  Is 
he  going  too  ?  " 

"I've  taken  him  through  too  much  to  leave 
hira  behind  now,"  said  George  fondly.  "  Look. 
This  is  as  good  as  a  kennel."  He  pointed  to  an 
overcoat,  which  the  East  Tennessee  Captain  had 
given  him,  and  showed  on  one  side  a  large 
pocket.  The  side  of  the  latter  was  buttoned  up 
closely  to  the  coat. 

The  minutes  dragged  along.  Finally  "Watson 
said,  with  a  sort  of  mournful  impressiveness : 
"  Boys,  let  us  all  bid  each  other  good-bye.  For 
some  of  us  may  never  meet  again ! " 

The  men  clasped  one  another  by  the  hand.  In 
the  eyes  of  most  of  them  were  tears — not  timid 
tears,  but  the  tears  of  soldiers  who  had  become 
attached  to  one  another  through  suffering  and 
hoping  together.  It  was  a  solemn  scene  which 
the  rays  of  the  dying  sun  illumined,  and  George 
would  never  forget  it. 

"Watson  brushed  a  drop  from  his  cheek. 

"  I  feel  better,  now,"  he  said  cheerfully ;  "  I'm 


270  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

ready  for  anything.  Remember  one  thing. 
Treat  the  jailer  as  gently  as  possible.  He  has 
been  a  kind  fellow  where  some  would  have  been 
the  reverse." 

"  Aye,"  murmured  his  companions.  It  was  an 
order  which  had  their  hearty  sympathy. 

In  a  little  while  there  was  the  long-expected 
creaking  at  the  door.  It  was  supper  time !  Two 
negroes  entered  and  placed  some  pans  containing 
food  upon  the  table.  Then  they  retired,  and  the 
door  was  locked. 

"  Eat,  boys,"  whispered  Watson ;  "  we  don't 
know  when  we  may  get  our  next  square 
meal." 

The  men  soon  disposed  of  the  food.  Hardly 
had  they  finished  before  the  door  was  thrown 
open,  and  the  jailer,  an  elderly,  bearded  man, 
appeared. 

"  Good-evening,  men,"  he  said,  in  a  pleasant, 
unsuspicious  voice.  He  halted  at  the  doorway 
with  the  keys  in  his  right  hand. 

It  was  a  terrible  moment.  George  felt  as  if  he 
were  living  ten  years  in  that  one  instant. 

"  Good-evening,  sir,"  said  Watson,  approach- 
ing the  jailer.     "  It's  such  a  very  pleasant  even- 


^^^dHiMMHH^^KaK^.  ^  i 

■3 

1 

^  vH 

* 

Watson  Placed  His  Hand  Over  the  Man's   Mouth 


Final  Trials  27 1 

ing  that  we  intend  to  take  a  little  walk."  He 
threw  back  the  door  as  he  spoke. 

The  jailer  was  unprepared  for  this  move.  He 
did  not  even  divine  what  was  intended. 

"  How — what  do  you  mean "  he  falt- 
ered. 

"  We've  had  enough  of  prison  life,"  said  Mac- 
greggor,  in  a  calm,  even  voice,  "  and  we  are  going 
to  leave  you.  Now  give  up  the  keys,  and  keep 
very  quiet,  or  you'll  find " 

"  Keep  off ! "  cried  the  jailer,  as  he  tightened 
his  hold  on  the  bunch  of  keys.  He  was  about  to 
call  for  help,  but  Watson  placed  his  left  hand 
over  the  man's  mouth,  and  with  his  right 
clutched  the  unfortunate's  throat.  Then  Mac- 
greggor  seized  the  keys,  after  a  sharp  but  de- 
cisive struggle,  and  hurried  into  the  hallway, 
where  he  began  to  release  the  general  prisoners. 
He  quickly  unlocked  in  succession  the  doors  of 
the  three  other  rooms  on  the  second  floor.  The 
men  thus  freed  did  not  understand  the  signifi- 
cance of  it  all,  but  they  saw  unexpected  liberty 
staring  them  in  the  face,  and  they  ran  out  of 
their  quarters  like  so  many  sheep. 

Meanwhile  the  members  of  the  engine  expedi- 


272  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

tion,  with  the  exception  of  "Watson  and  Mac- 
greggor,  had  run  almost  noiselessly  down  the 
staircase,  through  the  jailer's  quarters  on  the 
first  floor,  and  thus  out  into  the  prison  yard. 
Some  of  them  threw  themselves  upon  the  three 
soldiers  in  the  rear  of  the  yard,  wrenched  from 
them  their  muskets,  crying  out  at  the  same  time : 
"  Make  a  movement  or  a  cry  and  we'll  shoot  you 
down ! "  The  rest  of  the  party,  among  whom 
were  George  Knight  and  Jenks,  tore  into  the 
front  part  of  the  yard,  where  four  guards  were 
patroling  near  the  main  door  of  the  jail.  Two 
of  these  guards  were  quickly  disarmed.  But  the 
other  two,  seeing  the  oncoming  of  the  prisoners, 
ran  out  of  the  gate  of  the  picket  fence,  uttering 
loud  cries  as  they  went.  Their  escape  was  en- 
tirely unexpected. 

The  general  prisoners  now  came  tumbling  into 
the  yard,  headed  by  "Watson  and  Macgreggor. 
"Watson,  warned  that  there  was  no  time  to  lose, 
had  released  his  hold  upon  the  astonished  jailer. 
He  did  not  know  that  two  of  the  sentinels  had 
escaped,  but  he  arrived  down-stairs  just  in  time 
to  see  the  result  of  their  disappearance.  A  large 
reserve  guard  of  Confederates,  warned  of  the  jail 


Final  Trials  273 

delivery  by  these  two  soldiers,  came  rushing 
madly  into  the  yard. 

"  Look  out,  boys ! "  cried  "Watson.  Other 
members  of  the  engine  party,  seeing  the  arrival 
of  the  troops,  released  the  five  remaining  senti- 
nels, threw  down  their  newly  acquired  muskets, 
and  began  to  scale  the  prison  fence.  There  came 
the  sharp  crack  of  rifles  from  the  reserve  guard. 
Whiz  !  The  bullets  rattled  all  around  the  heads 
of  the  fence-climbers,  the  whistling  noise  having 
for  accompaniment  the  cries  of  the  angry  Con- 
federates. Whiz !  Another  volley !  Yet  no  one 
was  hit.  On  the  fugitives  went,  as  they  de- 
scended on  the  other  side  of  the  fence,  and  made 
for  some  woods  at  a  distance  of  nearly  a  mile 
from  the  prison. 

"  After  'em,  men,"  came  the  word  of  command 
to  the  Confederates.  Soldiers  were  running 
hither  and  thither,  while  the  general  prisoners, 
who  had  been  released  by  Macgreggor,  were  soon 
safely  housed  in  their  old  rooms.  The  bullets 
were  flying  thick  and  fast  within  and  without 
the  prison  yard ;  the  scene  was  one  of  pandemo- 
nium. Ere  long  five  of  the  engine  party  had  been 
captured,  three  inside  of  the  yard  and  two  imme- 


274  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

diatelj  outside.  Among  these  were  Jenks  and 
Macgreggor  who  were  both  uninjured,  but  both 
very  much  disheartened.  Soon  there  was  the 
clatter  of  hoofs,  and  a  troop  of  cavalry  dashed 
up  to  the  front  of  the  jail. 

"  No  more  chance  of  escape  !  "  said  Jenks  bit- 
terly, as  he  looked  out  of  the  barred  window. 
He  could  hear  the  cavalry  colonel  excitedly 
crying :  "  Hunt  down  the  fellows  till  you  have 
every  one  of  them !  " 

"I  hope  some  of  the  boys  will  get  off,"  re- 
marked Macgreggor.  "Any  one  who  is  captured 
is  sure  to  be  hung  now."  Afterwards  another 
prisoner  was  captured.  There  were  now  six  of 
the  party  back  in  jail. 

Where  were  Watson  and  George  during  this 
escapade  ?  No  sooner  had  the  former  cried  out 
his  warning,  on  the  approach  of  the  reserve 
guard,  than  he  made  directly  for  George,  who 
was  in  the  back  part  of  the  yard. 

"  Come  on,"  he  said,  in  tones  of  suppressed  ex- 
citement, "over  the  fence  with  us.  It's  our  only 
chance — now  !  " 

Imitating  the  example  of  others  the  man  and 
boy  were  soon  balanced  on  top  of  the  wooden 


Final  Trials  275 

fence.  Whirr !  George  was  conscious  of  a 
whistling  sound,  and  a  bullet  flew  by  him  as  it 
just  grazed  the  tip  of  one  ear. 

"  Hurry  up ! "  urged  Watson.  In  another 
second  the  two  had  dropped  from  the  fence  and 
were  running  like  mad  over  a  large  field. 

"Halt!"  cried  some  voices  behind  them. 
Looking  back  they  could  see  that  about  a  dozen 
soldiers  were  in  hot  pursuit.  A  ball  sped  by 
George,  dangerously  near  the  capacious  pocket 
in  which  Waggie  was  ensconced  ;  a  second  bullet 
would  have  ended  the  life  of  Watson  had  it  come 
an  inch  nearer  the  crown  of  his  head. 

"  Look  here,"  said  Watson.  "  These  men  are 
fresh — we  are  weakened  by  imprisonment — they 
will  get  up  to  us  in  the  end.  Let's  try  a  trick. 
The  next  time  the  bullets  come  we'll  drop  as  if 
we  were  dead." 

At  that  moment  another  volley  rattled  around 
and  over  them.  Watson  threw  up  his  arms,  as 
if  in  agony,  and  sank  on  the  grass.  George 
uttered  a  loud  cry,  and  went  down  within  a  few 
feet  of  his  companion. 

All  but  one  of  the  Confederates  halted,  upon 
seeing  the  apparent  success  of  their  aim,  and 


276  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

turned  to  pursue  in  a  new  direction.  The  re- 
maining soldier  came  running  up  to  the  two 
prisoners,  and  after  taking  one  look  which  con- 
vinced him  that  they  were  either  dead  or  dying 
he  scurried  back  to  rejoin  his  detachment.  There 
was  no  use  in  wasting  time  over  corpses  when 
living  enemies  remained  to  be  caught. 

The  "  corpses "  waited  until  all  was  quiet 
around  them.  Then  they  arose,  and  kept  on 
towards  the  woods.  These  they  reached  when 
darkness  had  fallen  upon  the  trees — a  circum- 
stance which  aided  them  in  one  way,  as  it  les- 
sened the  danger  of  pursuit.  But  in  another  way 
the  night  impeded  their  progress  for  they  could 
not  get  their  bearings.  They  groped  from  tree 
to  tree,  and  from  bush  to  bush,  like  blind  men. 
Once  they  heard  a  great  rustling,  and  were  con- 
vinced that  it  was  caused  by  some  of  their  com- 
panions, but  they  dared  not  speak,  for  fear  of  a 
mistake.  At  last  they  stumbled  out  upon  a  de- 
serted highroad. 

"  "Where  are  we  ?  "    whispered  George. 

"I  don't  know,"  returned  Watson.  "Hark I 
Do  you  hear  anything  ?  " 

A  sound,  at  first  very  faint,  became  more  and 


Final  Trials  277 

more  distinct  as  tlaey  listened.  Galloping 
horsemen  and  the  rattle  of  sabres  proclaimed  the 
approach  of  cavalry. 

"  Back  into  the  woods,"  urged  Watson.  "  We 
may  be  putting  ourselves  in  a  trap — but  for  the 
life  of  me  I  don't  know  where  else  to 
go!" 

They  hurried  into  the  wood,  where  they 
crawled  under  a  scrubby  pine  bush,  and  anxiously 
awaited  the  outcome.  On  rushed  the  horsemen 
until  they  reached  the  outskirts  of  the  wood. 
Here  they  halted.  The  hiders  under  the  pine 
bush  could  hear  one  of  the  oflBcers  say :  "  The 
infantry  will  soon  be  here  to  relieve  us." 

"We've  had  a  great  time  to-night,"  growled 
another  officer.  "These  Yankees,  not  content 
with  troubling  us  on  the  battle-field,  must  even 
stir  things  up  when  they  are  prisoners." 

"I  don't  wonder  those  locomotive-stealers 
wanted  to  escape,"  laughed  the  first  officer. 
"They  know  what  the  punishment  of  a  spy 
always  is." 

In  a  few  minutes  a  company  of  infantry 
marched  to  the  scene.  After  a  short  conference 
between  their  officers  and  those  of  the  cavalry 


278  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

the  horsemen  galloped  away.  The  infantry  were 
now  formed  into  squads,  and  sent  to  keep  guard 
in  the  woods. 

"  Things  are  getting  rather  warm !  "  whispered 
"Watson.  George  murmured  an  assent.  Well 
might  he  do  so,  for  a  sentry  had  soon  been 
posted  within  fifty  feet  of  the  two  fugitives. 
The  situation  was  fraught  with  the  greatest 
danger.  Watson  and  George  realized  that  the 
soldiers  would  patrol  the  woods  until  morning, 
when  discovery  would  be  inevitable. 

Watson  sank  his  voice  so  low  that  it  could  just 
be  heard  by  his  companion. 

"  We  can't  afford  to  stay  here  until  daylight," 
he  whispered.  "  We  must  wriggle  out  of  here 
until  we  come  to  the  edge  of  the  road.  Then  we 
must  make  a  break  and  run." 

"  Kun  where  ?  "    asked  George. 

"  Providence  alone  knows,"  answered  Watson. 
"We  must  trust  to  chance.  But  anything  is 
better  than  remaining  here,  to  be  caught  like 
rabbits  by  dogs." 

"I'm  ready,"  replied  George.  He  already 
saw  himself  back  in  the  Atlanta  prison,  and  he 
even  pictured  himself  with  a  rope  around  his 


Final  Trials  279 

neck;  but  he  was  prepared  for  any  adventure, 
whatever  might  be  the  result. 

"The  sooner  the  better,"  whispered  Watson. 
"Without  any  more  words  the  two  began  to 
wriggle  along  the  ground  and  kept  up  this  snake- 
like motion  until  they  reached  the  edge  of  the 
wood.  It  was  slow  work  and  very  tiresome,  but 
it  was  their  one  chance  of  escape.  Then  they 
stood  up,  and  bounded  across  the  highroad. 

"  There  they  go  !  "  shouted  one  of  the  soldiers 
in  the  wood.  At  once  there  was  an  uproar,  as 
the  sentries  ran  out  into  the  road,  and  began  to 
fire  their  guns  in  wild  confusion.  It  was  pitch 
dark,  and  they  could  see  nothing.  Over  the  road 
and  into  an  open  field  tore  the  two  fugitives. 
They  felt  like  blind  men,  for  they  could  hardly 
distinguish  any  object  before  them;  moreover 
they  were  wholly  ignorant  of  their  surroundings. 
They  ran  on,  however,  and  finally  reached  an- 
other field  in  which  were  several  large  trees. 
Watson  made  straight  for  one  of  them. 

"  Up  we  go,"  he  said,  and,  suiting  the  action  to 
the  order,  he  had  soon  clambered  up  the  tree, 
and  seated  himself  across  one  of  its  branches. 
George  was  quick  to  follow  ;  he  climbed  up  with 


28o  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

even  more  celerity  than  Watson,  and  settled  him- 
self on  a  neighboring  branch. 

They  could  hear  the  cries  of  the  sentries, 
mingled  with  an  occasional  shot.  Two  of  the 
soldiers  passed  directly  under  the  tree  occupied 
by  the  Northerners. 

"  They  have  gotten  off,"  one  of  them  was  say- 
ing. 

"  I'm  not  surprised,"  rejoined  the  other  sentry. 
"Any  fellows  who  could  do  what  they  did  at 
Big  Shanty  are  not  easy  customers  to  deal 
with." 

In  a  little  while  the  two  sentries  returned, 
and,  again  passing  under  the  tree,  evidently 
went  back  to  the  woods.  The  uproar  had 
ceased ;  there  was  no  more  firing ;  it  was  plain 
that  the  chase  had  been  abandoned. 

After  the  lapse  of  half  an  hour  Watson  and 
George  descended  from  their  uncomfortable 
perches.  Once  upon  the  ground  the  boy  re- 
leased Waggie  from  his  pocket,  and  the  little 
party  pushed  on  in  the  darkness  for  about  a  mile. 
Here  they  found  a  hayrick  in  a  field,  alongside  of 
which  they  laid  their  weary  bones  and  slept  the 
sleep  of  exhaustion.     When  daylight  came  they 


Final  Trials  281 

had  awakened,  feeling  much  refreshed  and  ready 
for  more  adventures. 

"I'll  tell  you  what  I  think,"  said  Watson. 
"  There's  a  chance  for  us  yet,  provided  we  try  a 
new  means  of  getting  away  from  the  South." 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  "  asked  George. 

"  If  we  try  to  move  northward,"  continued 
Watson,  "  we  are  sure  to  be  caught.  Every 
countryman  between  Atlanta  and  Chattanooga 
will  be  on  the  lookout  for  us.  Instead  of  that, 
let  us  strike  out  towards  the  Gulf  of  Mexico, 
where  we  should  reach  one  of  the  ships  of  the 
Union  blockading  squadron.  New  Orleans  is  in 
the  hands  of  the  North,  and  many  of  our  vessels 
must  be  patroling  the  Gulf.  Once  we  reach  the 
coast  we  are  practically  free." 

"  The  very  thing  !  "  cried  the  boy.  "  You're  a 
genius !  " 

Watson  smiled. 

"Not  a  genius,"  he  said,  "but  I  have  what 
they  call  horse-sense  up  our  way — and  I'm  not 
anxious  to  return  to  the  delights  of  the  Atlanta 
prison." 

Acting  upon  this  new  theory  the  wanderers 
began   their  long  journey.     This  they  pursued 


282  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

amid  many  hardships,  not  the  least  of  which 
was  hunger.  Even  poor  Waggie  grew  emaci- 
ated. First  they  reached  the  banks  of  the 
Chattahoochee  Eiver,  after  which  they  secured 
a  boat  and  rowed  their  way  down  via  the 
Apalachicola  Eiver,  to  Apalachicola,  Florida,  on 
the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  Here  they  found,  to  their 
great  delight,  that  a  Federal  blockading  squadron 
was  patroling  on  the  Gulf,  near  the  mouth  of 
Apalachicola  Bay. 

The  two  fugitives  now  pushed  their  little  boat 
out  into  the  open  sea.  They  were  a  sorry  look- 
ing couple,  with  their  old  clothes  fairly  dropping 
from  them,  and  their  thin,  gaunt  figures  showing 
the  consequences  of  many  days  of  privation. 
Watson  was  feverish,  with  an  unnatural  glitter 
in  his  eyes,  while  George's  face  was  a  sickly 
white.  "Waggie  reposed  at  the  bottom  of  the 
rickety  craft,  as  if  he  cared  not  whether  he  lived 
or  died. 

"  Look ! "  cried  Watson,  who  was  at  the  oars. 
He  pointed  out  towards  the  south,  where  were  to 
be  seen  a  collection  of  masts  and  smoke-stacks, 
rising  above  long  black  hulls. 

"  It's  the  Federal  fleet,"  said  George.     He  was 


Final  Trials  283 

glad  to  have  a  look  at  it — glad  to  know  that 
deliverance  was  at  hand — but  he  felt  too  ex- 
hausted to  put  any  enthusiasm  into  his  voice. 

"Can  3^ou  see  any  flag?"  he  asked,  wearily. 
"  Perhaps  we  have  been  fooled  after  all.  The 
ships  may  belong  to  the  Confederate  navy." 

Soon  they  could  detect,  as  they  drew  nearer,  a 
flutter  of  bunting  from  the  vessel  nearest  to 
them. 

"  It's  the  old  flag ! "  cried  George,  jumping 
from  his  seat  in  the  stern  with  a  precipitancy 
that  threatened  to  upset  the  boat.  "  See  the  blue 
— and  the  red  and  w^hite  stripes  1  Hurrah ! " 
But  he  was  too  weak  for  much  enthusiasm  even 
now  and  he  soon  had  to  sit  down  once  more. 

Watson  uttered  a  cry  which  was  meant  to  be 
triumphant,  although  it  came  like  a  hoarse  croak 
from  his  parched  throat.  Then  the  tears  gushed 
into  his  eyes  as  he  gazed  again  upon  the  flag.  It 
almost  seemed  as  if  he  were  home  again. 

Nearer  and  nearer  they  rowed  to  the  squadron. 
There  were  four  ships  of  war,  and  now  they 
could  see  the  sailors  walking  the  decks  and  the 
guns  in  the  portholes. 

"We'll   be  there  in  ten  minutes  now,"  said 


284  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

Watson,  "and  I  think  I  can  eat  a "    He 

gasped  and  failed  to  finish  the  sentence.  He 
half  rose  from  his  seat,  relinquished  the  oars, 
with  a  despairing  cry,  and  then,  losing  all  con- 
sciousness, pitched  over  the  gunwale  into  the 
sunlit  waters  of  the  Gulf. 

George  jumped  up  from  the  stern  and  stretched 
out  his  arm  to  seize  the  inanimate  body  of  his 
friend.  But  the  movement  was  too  much  for  the 
equilibrium  of  the  frail  boat  and  for  the  balance 
of  the  boy.  Out  into  the  water  shot  George, 
overturning  the  craft  until  its  keel  was  in  the  air. 

George  struck  out  for  Watson  and  succeeded 
in  grabbing  him  by  the  hair  of  his  head  just  as 
he  was  about  to  disappear  beneath  the  waves. 
Then  he  changed  his  hold  upon  the  man,  and 
with  his  left  hand  clutching  the  neck  of  Watson's 
coat  he  pulled  to  the  side  of  the  upturned  boat. 
To  this  he  held  with  his  right  hand  like  grim 
death,  as  he  put  his  left  arm  around  Watson's 
waist.  The  boy  was  panting  for  breath,  and  as 
weak  as  if  he  had  been  swimming  for  miles. 
Not  until  now  had  he  thoroughly  realized  how 
hunger,  exposure  and  privation  had  done  their 
work.     The  next  instant  he  felt  a  gentle  pad- 


Final  Trials  285 

dling  near  him ;  he  looked  down  and  there  was 
Waggle's  wet  but  plucky  little  face. 

"  Hello !  old  boy,"  said  George.  "  I  would 
rather  drown  myself  than  see  you  go  under.  So 
here  goes ! " 

He  released  his  hold  of  "Watson  and  by  a  quick 
movement  swung  Waggle  to  the  upturned  bot- 
tom of  the  boat,  near  the  keel.  The  tiny  animal 
gave  a  bark  that  said  "  Thank  you,"  as  plainly 
as  if  he  had  spelled  out  every  letter  of  the  two 
words.  George  again  seized  Watson  and  clung 
to  the  boat  more  tightly  than  before.  The 
soldier  gradually  came  back  to  consciousness. 

"What  have  I  done?"  he  asked,  staring 
wildly  at  the  hot  sun  above  him. 

"  Nothing  !  "  answered  George.  "  Only  try  to 
hold  on  to  the  boat.  For  I'm  so  worn  out  that 
it's  all  I  can  do  to  keep  myself  up." 

Watson  clawed  frantically  at  the  gunwale. 
At  last  he  managed  to  grasp  it  with  his  tired, 
bony  fingers. 

"  I  can't  hold  on  much  longer !  "  suddenly  said 
George,  in  a  faint  voice.  His  hands  were  numb ; 
he  felt  as  if  he  had  not  one  particle  of  strength 
left  in  his  emaciated  body.     His  mind  began  to 


286  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

wander.  He  forgot  that  he  was  in  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico;  he  thought  he  was  holding  on  to  a 
horse.  By  and  by  the  horse  began  to  move. 
Could  he  keep  his  grasp  on  the  animal?  No; 
not  much  longer.  The  horse  started  to  canter, 
and  the  boy  felt  himself  slipping  backward.  In 
reality  he  had  let  go  his  hold  upon  the  boat.  So, 
too,  had  Watson.  The  next  moment  was  a 
blank.  The  sun  came  burning  down  on  poor 
Waggie,  perched  on  top  of  the  craft,  as  he 
growled  piteously  at  the  sight  of  master  and 
friend  drifting  helplessly  away. 

*  *  *  *  *  * 

"When  George  recovered  his  senses  he  was  ly- 
ing on  the  deck  of  one  of  the  war-vessels,  and 
Waggie  was  barking  in  an  effort  to  awaken  him. 
Near  him  sat  Watson,  with  a  happy  smile  on  his 
wan  face.     Around  him  was  a  group  of  officers. 

"By  Jove,"  one  of  the  latter  was  saying. 
"Those  poor  fellows  had  a  narrow  escape.  It 
was  well  we  saw  their  plight  and  sent  a  boat 
after  them.     It  got  there  just  in  time." 

"  Well,  my  boys,"  asked  an  older  officer  (who 
was  evidently  the  captain  of  the  vessel),  in  a 
gruff  but  not  .unkindly  tone,  "  what  on  earth  are 


Final  Trials  287 

you,  and  where  did  you  come  from  ?  You 
don't  appear  to  have  been  gorging  yourselves 
lately." 

"When  George  and  Watson  were  a  little 
stronger  they  told  the  story  of  their  adventures, 
in  brief  but  graphic  terms,  to  the  interested 
group  of  officers.  When  they  had  finished  the 
Captain  came  up  to  them,  and  put  a  hand  upon 
the  shoulder  of  each. 

"  You  fellows  want  a  good  round  meal  I "  he 
said  emphatically.  "  And  after  that  some 
clothes  will  not  come  amiss,  I  guess." 

To  this  they  readily  assented.  How  delicious 
the  food  tasted  when  it  was  served  to  them  at 
the  officers'  mess;  and  how  comfortable  but 
strange  they  felt  when,  an  hour  later,  they 
were  arrayed  in  all  the  glory  of  clean  under- 
clothes, shoes,  nice  suits  and  naval  caps.  When 
they  came  on  deck  again,  how  the  sailors  did 
cheer.  And  Waggie !  How  fine  and  cheerful  he 
looked,  to  be  sure,  all  decked  out  in  ribbons  pro- 
vided by  the  tars ;  and  how  pleased  he  felt  with 
the  whole  world  since  he  had  eaten — but  it  would 
take  too  long  to  detail  the  menu  with  which  the 
dog  had  been  regaled.    The  wonder  was  that  he 


288  Chasing  an   Iron   Horse 

survived  the  spoiling  that  he  received  during  the 
next  four  days. 

At  the  end  of  that  time  he  accompanied  his 
master  and  Watson,  who  were  sent  on  a  govern- 
ment vessel  to  New  York.  From  New  York 
they  traveled  by  rail  to  Washington,  where  they 
were  to  relate  their  experiences,  and  the  result  of 
the  railroad  chase,  to  President  Lincoln. 

First  they  saw  Mr.  Stanton,  the  Secretary  of 
War,  who  made  them  dine  and  spend  the  night 
as  his  guests,  and  who  the  next  morning  took 
them  to  the  White  House.  George  trembled 
when  he  was  ushered  into  the  private  office  of 
Mr.  Lincoln.  He  felt  nervous  at  the  thought  of 
encountering  the  man  who,  more  than  any  one 
else,  held  in  his  hand  the  destiny  of  the  nation. 
But,  when  a  tall,  gaunt  person,  with  wonderful, 
thoughtful  eyes  and  a  homely  face,  illumined  by 
a  melancholy  but  attractive  smile,  walked  up  to 
him  and  asked :  "  Is  this  George  Knight  ?  "  all 
the  boy's  timidity  vanished.  As  he  answered, 
"  Yes,  I  am  George  Knight,"  he  felt  as  if  he  had 
known  the  President  for  years. 

Mr.  Lincoln  listened  to  the  narrative  of  the 
two  fugitives — now  fugitives  no  longer — and  put 


Final  Trials  289 

to  them  many  questions.  When  the  recital  was 
over  the  President  asked  :  "  Do  you  know  that 
poor  General  Mitchell  has  died  from  yellow 
fever  ?  " 

They  answered  in  the  aflBrmative,  for  Mr, 
Stanton  had  given  them  this  unwelcome  informa- 
tion upon  their  arrival  in  Washington. 

Mr.  Lincoln  pulled  a  paper  from  one  of  the 
pockets  of  his  ill-fitting  black  coat  and  handed  it 
to  Watson. 

"  Here  is  a  commission  for  you  as  a  Captain  in 
the  regular  army,"  he  explained.  "I  know  of 
no  one  who  could  deserve  it  more  than  Captain 
Watson." 

"  How  can  I  ever  thank  you,  Mr.  President  ?  " 
cried  Watson. 

"  The  thanks  are  all  on  my  side,"  answered  the 
President,  smiling.  "  That  reminds  me  of  a  little 
story.     When " 

Mr.  Stanton,  who  was  standing  immediately 
behind  his  chief,  began  to  cough  in  a  curious, 
unnatural  w^ay. 

A  gleam  of  humor  came  into  the  unfathomable 
eyes  of  the  President. 

"Mr.  Stanton  never  appreciates  my  stories," 


290  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

he  said,  quizzically,  "  and  when  he  coughs  that 
way  I  know  what  he  means."  Then,  turning  to 
George,  he  continued  :  "  My  lad,  you  are  one  of 
the  heroes  of  the  war !  I  had  intended  giving 
you,  too,  a  commission,  but  I  find  you  are  too 
young.  But  I  suppose  you  want  to  see  more  of 
the  war  ?  " 

"  Indeed  I  do,  Mr.  Lincoln !  "  cried  George. 

"  Well,  since  poor  Mitchell  is  dead,  how  would 
you  like  to  go  as  a  volunteer  aid  on  the  staff  of 
one  of  our  generals  ?  " 

"  The'  very  thing ! "  said  the  boy,  with 
ardor. 

Mr.  Lincoln  faced  his  Secretary  of  War. 

"  You  don't  always  let  me  have  my  own  way, 
Mr.  Secretary,"  he  observed,  dryly,  "  but  I  think 
you  must  oblige  me  in  this." 

"  The  boy's  pretty  young,"  answered  the  Sec- 
retary, "  but  I  fancy  it  can  be  arranged." 

"  Very  good,"  said  the  President.  "  And  now, 
George,  if  you  behave  with  half  the  pluck  in  the 
future  that  you  have  shown  in  the  past,  I'll  have 
no  fear  for  you.  Do  your  duty,  and  some  day 
you  may  live  to  see — as  I  may  not  live  to  see — a 
perfect  reunion  between  North  and  South ;  for 


Final  Trials  291 

God  surely  does  not  intend  that  one  great  people 
shall  divide  into  two  separate  nations." 

George  left  the  White  House  in  a  perfect  glow 
of  enthusiasm.  The  very  next  day  he  was  or- 
dered to  join  the  staff  of  General  George  H. 
Thomas,  and  he  joyfully  obeyed  the  summons  to 
leave  Washington.  His  only  regret  was  in  part- 
ing from  Waggie,  whom  he  was  obliged  to  en- 
trust to  the  care  of  a  friend  of  Secretary  Stan- 
ton's. The  boy  saw  plenty  of  army  life  through- 
out the  rest  of  the  war.  When  the  conflict  was 
over  he  hurried  back  to  Washington,  found 
Waggie  alive  and  well,  and  then  went  home  with 
him  to  Cincinnati.  Here  he  had  a  startling  but 
delightful  reunion  with  his  father,  whose  mysteri- 
ous disappearance  had  been  due  to  his  capture  by 
the  Confederates,  and  an  incarceration  for  many 
months  in  an  out-of-the-way  Southern  prison. 

There  were  many  things  of  interest  which 
George  did  not  learn  until  after  the  last  gun  of 
the  war  had  been  fired.  One  was  that  Watson 
had  made  a  brilliant  record  for  himself  as  a  regu- 
lar army  officer,  and  had  come  out  of  the  war 
with  a  sound  skin  and  the  rank  of  Colonel. 
Another  piece  of  news  concerned  the  fortunes  of 


292  Chasing  an  Iron  Horse 

the  soldiers  who  escaped  from  the  Atlanta  jail. 
Eight  of  the  engine  party  and  the  East  Tennessee 
Captain  (this  number  including  Watson  and 
George),  managed  to  escape,  and  finally  reached 
the  Northern  lines  in  safety.  The  six  prisoners 
who  were  recaptured,  among  them  Macgreggor 
and  Jenks,  escaped  hanging,  and  were  exchanged 
for  the  same  number  of  Southern  prisoners. 
Jenks  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Gettysburg; 
Macgreggor  served  through  the  war,  was  honor- 
ably discharged  as  a  Major  of  Volunteers,  and 
finally  developed  into  a  successful  physician  in 
the  growing  city  of  Chicago. 

"Waggie  has  been  gathered  to  his  canine  fore- 
fathers these  many  years.  But  it  is  comforting 
to  reflect  that  he  lived  to  a  fine  old  age,  and  died 
full  of  honors.  He  was  known  far  and  wide  as 
the  "  Civil  "War  Dog  " — a  title  which  caused  him 
to  receive  much  attention,  and  a  good  many 
dainty  bits  of  food  in  addition  to  his  regular 
meals.  Let  it  be  added,  however,  that  his  diges- 
tion and  his  bright  disposition  remained  unim- 
paired until  the  end. 

George  Knight  is  now  a  prosperous  merchant, 
happily  married,  and  living  in  St.  Louis.     He  is 


Final  Trials  293 

proud  in  the  possession  of  a  son  who  saw  active 
service  in  the  Spanish- American  War  as  an  officer 
in  the  navy.  Before  we  say  good-bye  to  our  hero 
let  us  record  that  he  never  forgot  the  kindness 
of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Buckley,  who  had  saved  his  life 
as  a  boy.  Many  a  Christmas-time  gift  testified 
to  the  gratitude  of  the  Northerner. 

In  the  desk  in  George  Knight's  office  is  a  bundle 
of  letters  from  the  old  clergyman.  The  last  of 
these  to  be  received  reads  as  follows : 

"Dear  Friend  George: 

"This  is  Christmas  Day — the  last,  I  am 
sure,  that  I  will  ever  see.  I  am  too  feeble  to 
write  you  more  than  my  best  wishes  for  the  holi- 
day season,  and  to  say — Thank  God,  the  war  has 
been  over  these  twenty  years  and  we  are  once 
more  a  united  nation.  No  North,  no  South,  no 
East,  no  West — but  simply  America.  I  have 
been  spared  to  see  this — and  I  am  grateful. 
"  Cordially  yours, 

"Amos  Buckley." 


the  end 


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